Imphal, December 06 2010: In all 2,19,616 voters would be exercising their franchise to elect councillors in eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayats on January 3 next year.

For the first time in the history of local self Government in Manipur, the voters would be electing two members of Ward Development Committee for each of the wards under these eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayats in this election.

State Election Commission has issued a public notice in this connection today.

Accordingly, the election code of conduct too has come into effect from today.

This election code of conduct would be in effect in the territorial area of all the eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayat.

The eight Municipal Councils which will go to poll on January 3, 2010 are Jiribam, Mayang Imphal, Thoubal, Kakching, Nambol, Bishnupur, Ningthoukhong and Moirang, and the 18 Nagar Panchayats are Andro, Lamlai, Sekmai, Lamshang, Lilong, Samurou, Wangoi, Thongkhong Lakshmi Bazar, Lilong, Yairipok, Sikhong-Sekmai, Heirok, Wangjing Lamding, Kakching Khunou, Sugnu, Oinam, Kwakta and Kumbi.

One councillor is to be elected from each of the ward under these eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayats.

In addition, the voters will also have the opportunity of electing two members of Ward Development Committee from each ward in this election, which is a first of its kind here.

Election for councillors and members of Ward Development Committee would be held simultaneously.

The total number of councillors to be elected from the eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayats is 279.The total number of wards in the eight Municipal Councils is 109 while 170 wards under the 18 Nagar Panchayats.

So, the total number of Ward Development Committee members to be elected is 558, 218 from 109 wards under the 8 Municipal Councils and 340 from 170 wards under the 18 Nagar Panchayats.

In accordance to the Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010 passed by the State Assembly, the councillors elected from each ward would be the chairman of the respective Ward Development Committee.

Besides the chairman, two members have to been elected while two other members have to be nominated by the Government from the civil society.

So, there would be in all five members in each Ward Development Committee.

Announcing the election schedule during a press conference this afternoon in her office chamber, Secretary of State Election Commission Th Chitra Devi appealed to all the voters to exercise their rights in electing the councillors of the Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats as well as the members of the Ward Development Committees which are to be set up newly in all the wards.

Out of the total 2,19,616 voters in the eight Municipal Councils and 18 Nagar Panchayats which would go to poll, 1,06,839 are male voters while 1,12,777 are female voters.

The last date for filing nomination paper to contest in the election is December 13 .

Scrutiny would be done on December 14 and December 16 would be the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers.

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