Ukhrul ex-ADC members urge CM for early polls
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, October 20 2023:
Former chairman Dr Yaronsho Ngalung and ex-members of ADC Ukhrul have urged the state government for early conduct of the long pending ADC election.
"We humbly request you to kindly initiate certain arrangements to conduct elections to ADCs at the earliest possible time," stated the former ADC members in a memorandum submitted to chief minister N Biren on October 18 .
According to the former councillors, the last tenure of ADCs of Manipur (2015-2020) ended on May 31, 2020, and the then government extended their terms by six months from June 1 till November 30, 2020 under section 13 of ADCs Act, 1971.Since then, elections to ADCs have not been conducted till date, which is almost 3 years now.
"We expressly felt that local body institutions such as ADCs should be kept alive which is quintessential for bringing village level development (though in a small way) in the Hill areas of Manipur," they pointed out, adding that at present, grassroots-level democracy is non-functional in the Hill tribal areas, which should be overcome by any means with political commitment.
At the same time, the former ADC members requested the state government to allow them to continue their office as caretaker members in the event of delaying the elections.
"It is deemed fit to allow all the ex-members of ADCs of Manipur to continue as caretaker members of ADCs till the elections to ADCs are conducted by the State Election Commission.
We strongly feel the need to have such an arrangement at the present circumstances and situation," the memorandum added.