Manipur Hill ADC Polls in April

By Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Feb 14 : The Manipur Government has urged the Election Commission of India not to fix any election during the month of April next as elections to the District Councils of Hill districts will be held then.

After a gap of almost two decades, the Manipur Government recently decided to hold elections to the six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of Churachandpur, Chandel, Senapati, Kangpokpi , Tamenglong and Ukhrul in April next.

Sources said Principal Secretary (Hills) P Gonmei has noted that the State Election Commission is in hectic preparation for the publication of the list of polling stations. The draft electoral rolls will be published on March 2 while the final electoral rolls after hearing to the claims and objections will be published on March 27.

Sources further said that State Chief Secretary DS Poonia has convened a high level meeting with State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), DGP, Commissioners of Hills department, Tribal Development, and Secretary of State Election Commission on February 18 to discuss election matters.

The meeting will discuss on the security arrangement and chalk out a security deployment plan and manpower requirement for the elections, an official source said.

The elections to the district councils in Manipur had been held up since the last election in early part of 80s on the demand for extension of the provisions of 6th Schedule provision of the Constitution.