Two Serou villages opt to remain in Chandel
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Gyanand Naorem
Kakching, August 01 2012:
With the Panchayat Election scheduled on September 13 and all district administrations busy in preparing for the election, controversy has surfaced in two villages under Serou Gram Panchayat in Thoubal district.
The controversy has arisen after the village chiefs of Kekrupokpi and S Thingkhangphai villages under Serou Gram Panchayat opted to vote only in Chandel district despite inclusion in Serou GP of Thoubal district.
Chief of Kekrupokpi village Lulkhomang Tonthang said that the two villages, which have been part of Chandel district for more than 50 years, are included in Serou Gram Panchayat of Thoubal district some 20 years ago as Serou did not have the required population of a GP.
Consequently, the name of the village was converted from K Phailen to Kekrupokpi.
Since dual voting right is not permissible under the Indian constitution, the villagers have opted to remain as voters of Chandel district only.
He further informed that the two villages have decided not to field any candidate in upcoming Panchayat Election as they are demanding to exclude from the GP and remain as part of ADC Chandel.
Chief of S Thingkhangphai village Ng Francis Baite said that the new electoral rolls have only 230 voters in the two villages against actual voters of 432.He also demanded to exclude the two villages from Serou GP.
Mention may be made that the last date of filing nomination papers for the Panchayat Election is August 4.Serou Gram Panchayat has been declared reserved for Scheduled Tribe.
With the last date of filing nomination drawing nearer, controversy is likely to linger on with the two ST villages refusing to field any candidates.