'ADC polls notification on May 5' pact signed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 07 2021:
Yet again, the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has signed an agreement with the Government in connection with the ADC elections and called off its agitation today.
It has been agreed that the Government would issue the election notification of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) on or before May 5 and complete the elections by June 25, 2021 .
The agreement was reached in a meeting between representatives of several student bodies including ATSUM, KSO (Kuki Students' Organisation), ANSAM (All Naga Students' Association, Manipur) and the Government, represented by YAS Minister Letpao Haokip, PHE Minister Losii Dikho, Tribal Affairs Minister Vungzagin Valte and other high ranking officials.
A copy of the agreement available with this paper mentions, "...the State Government will announce the election notification of the ADCs on or before 5th of May, 2021 (for which the State Government shall take complete responsibility) so that the elections are completed by 25th of June, 2021" .
Meanwhile, the three executive members of ATSUM who were arrested by the police yesterday have also been released.
Notably, ATSUM had imposed an indefinite total shutdown in all of the hill districts following the arrests of the three members.
The stir had affected Ukhrul, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and other tribal populated areas.
It may be mentioned here that ATSUM has been demanding the Government to issue a notification for holding elections to the six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of Chandel, Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.
Denouncing the Government's decision to delay the elections till June, ATSUM had resumed its stir on April 5, which resulted in the arrests of its three executive members yesterday.
Significantly, the offices of the six ADCs have been lying vacant since December 2020 after they were dissolved by the State Cabinet making the Deputy Commissioners of the districts caretaker Chairmen.
Earlier, the tenure of the offices of the ADC Members was extended by six months in June, 2020 and it had expired on November 30 last.
Since then, ATSUM has been urging the Government to hold the elections to the ADCs.