ADCs dissolved, Chairmen cry foul
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2020: ADC (Autonomous District Councils) Chairmen and Members have criticised the Government for dissolving the ADCs before taking up steps to conduct elections to the councils.

Stating that the State Government is yet to take up steps for holding the elections to the ADCs and announce date of polls, Ukhrul ADC Chairman and coordinator of Chairmen's Forum, Dr Yaronsho Ngalung said that the Government has undermined them by dissolving the bodies.

He stated that the tenure of office of the Members of the Council was extended for six months in June last and expired on November 30 .

As per the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, the tenure of Members of the 6 ADCs may be extended by a year.

The Chairmen's Forum had appealed the Government to further extend the tenure of the Members for six more months or conduct the polls before the term ends.

However, the Government has failed to do so as the tenure had already expired on November 30 and polls are not yet conducted, he said.

The Election Commission is not to be blamed for not announcing the date of polls to the ADCs.

The commission had on August 22 intimated the Hills Department to conduct the elections in mid November.

However, as the Hills Department did not give any reply, the poll dates were not announced.

The Hills Department is to be blamed for the failure to conduct the elections in time, he said adding that the elections to Imphal Municipal Corporation have been scheduled to be held in January.

Questioning why the State Cabinet has dissolved the ADCs before taking resolutions to hold the elections, he further criticised the Government for not appointing the Chairmen of the ADCs as caretaker Chairmen as interim measures until the elections.

The previous Ibobi led Congress Government had appointed the sitting Chairmen of the ADCs as caretaker Chairmen until the elections.

But the Biren Singh Government has not appointed the Chairmen as the interim caretaker Chairmen and instead Deputy Commissioners have been named as the caretaker Chairmen.

This is very unfortunate, he said.

He further accused the present Government of poorly treating the Chairmen of the ADCs.

The previous Congress Government treated the Chairmen of the ADCs as next to the MLAs.

But this Government has kept the Chairmen at a level below the Chief Secretary.

Regarding this, the ADCs had urged the Chief Minister to include the Chairmen in the 2017 Warrant of Precedence.

However, the appeal was not heard.

The dissolution of the councils on November 30 amid all these issues is an "insult" to the ADC Chairmen and Members, he said.

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