BJP set pitch for ADC poll battle in hill areas
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, November 25 2014: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set for the ensuing elections of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) in the State as the search for the probable candidates has already begun with the ongoing enrolment of party membership in the hill areas.

A highly placed source said, 'the BJP would set up candidates in all the constituencies of the six Autonomous District Councils slated for May next year'.

The saffron party is reportedly eyeing the ADC polls with all seriousness and looks to open account by winning some seats.

After a debacle in the by-election of Hiyanglam Assembly constituency in October, the party is overhauling strategies to make their presence felt in the ensuing ADC polls in Chandel, Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

In the recent party meeting in Ukhrul, the BJP has declared its intention to join any electoral fray in the State � which clearly hints on the district council that would go to the husting in six months time.

An insider revealed that a serious preparation has already begun even among the State unit BJP top rungs to fund the next year's elections in the hill districts.

In 2010 ADC poll that was resumed after a gap of 20 years, the Naga organisations made their opposition loud and clear with the declaration of the Manipur Hill Areas District Council (2008) Act as ''null and void'' and eventually boycotted the elections.

Leaders of the state's saffron party hoped it would give a good fight against the Congress which is currently in power in all the six ADC segments in the hills.

They believed the polls next year would show the party's prospect in 2017 general elections in the State.

NSCN (IM), a Naga insurgent group currently under ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, has opposed the Act amended in 2008, and imposed social boycott on those who defy their diktak to stay away from ADC elections in 2010 .

A report indicated that the Naga groups are still maintaining the same stance on ADC issue.

With no new amendment in sight, the 2015 elections would also go under the same MHADC 2008 Act and are speculated that it would face opposition from different quarters of Naga groups.

Political pundits are keeping their fingers crossed on how the Naga groups would again react to the polls next year as the Naga People's Front (NPF) has also started their ground work for the contentious ADC elections.

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