Cong leader grinds Govt over 'withholding' local body elections
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 03 2026: The election for local bodies was postponed due to a delimitation process initiated by an order of the Supreme Court, said Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh in the Assembly today.

The Chief Minister was responding to a Calling Attention motion raised by Congress leader MLA K Meghachandra when he made the statement.

Raising the motion, MLA K Meghachandra sought answers from the State Government in not holding elections for the local bodies.

The State has incurred a loss of around Rs 624 crore meant for local bodies under the 15th Finance Commission due to the Government's failure to hold elections and elect representatives to the bodies, Meghachandra said.

The Congress leader said the last ADC election was held in 2015 .

The election for the Urban Local Bodies was held in 2016, and that of the Panchayat was held in 2017 .

Under the 15th Finance Commission, the State was supposed to receive Rs 867 crore.

Of this the State received only Rs 242.50 crore.

As the period of the 15th Finance Commission ended on March 31, 2026, the State has incurred a huge loss of around Rs 624 crore, Meghachandra said.

Further, the State's share under the 16th Finance Commission is Rs 1,262 .

There is apprehension that the State may lose this grant too if no elections are held to elect representatives to the local bodies, he added.

Asking if the Government is deliberately withholding the elections, Meghachandra said the Government's failure to hold the elections has eroded grassroots democracy.

He further asked if the Government will take responsibility for the losses incurred.

Responding to the motion, Chief Minister Yumnam Kehmchand said the elections were postponed, in spite of an earlier Cabinet decision and a HC ruling, due to initiation of the delimitation process following an order of the Supreme Court.

While the present Government has not much time left, the delimitation process is still ongoing.

Efforts are being taken up to hold the elections, he said.

On loss of grants, the CM said that the grants for ADCs can still be received through administrative committees.

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