Pending ADC polls Further delay may snowball into a big issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 21 2021: Further delay in holding election to the six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) has also the potential to snowball into a serious issue.

In the meantime, Chairmen and Members of the dissolved ADCs have been closely watching what steps the Government may take by March 31.An order passed by the High Court of Manipur on March 2 directed the State Election Commission to announce the election schedule within one week of receiving the particular order.

However, one week's time given by the High Court has already lapsed.

On the other hand, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) had already recommended the State Government twice to hold the ADC election.

Even if the HAC recommends the State Government not to hold ADC election citing one reason or another, the Government may refer the matter to the Governor and take up necessary steps for holding election in accordance to the functions of HAC as laid down in the Manipur Legislative Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

Notwithstanding the High Court's order, the collective decision and recommendation of the HAC to hold election and the sanction given by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, no election notification has been issued till date.

Sources informed that the Chairmen and the Members of the dissolved ADCs have been anxiously waiting for March 31, the date agreed between ATSUM and the State Government as per an MoU signed between the two sides.

Nonetheless, the ex-Chairmen and the ex-Members have already completed consultation with people at the grassroots level regarding what course of action they may take after March 31 depending on the Government's initiative or inaction, said the sources.

ADCs are directly responsible for the welfare of hill people at the grassroots level.

As such, keeping the ADCs defunct for a prolonged period may be interpreted as denial of democratic rights to the people at grassroots level, according to the sources.

It is possible that holding back the ADC election is related to larger electoral politics of the State.

The election is perhaps kept at bay considering the much bigger prospect of NPF as compared to other parties at this point of time, said the sources.

If the ADC election is held now, either BJP or NPF may win maximum number of seats in Chandel.

Even if Churachandpur and Kangpokpi go to BJP, there is a strong possibility of NPF securing maximum seats in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, said the sources.

The sources maintained that it would take at least three years to create ADCs and hold elections in the new districts of Kamjong, Noney, Pherzawl and Tengnoupal.

If the new districts must go to polls together with the existing six ADCs, the election is unlikely to be held any time soon.

Notably, the NPF candidate won the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat in the last Parliamentary election by a whopping margin of more than 74,000 votes over his BJP rival.

NPF and BJP are partners of the coalition Government led by Chief Minister N Biren.

At the time of the Parliamentary election, there was only one NPF Minister in the Biren Government.

If the ADC election is held now and NPF captures three or four ADCs, BJP's prospect in the hill districts in the next State Assembly election which is due early next year cannot be said to be very bright, the sources opined.

Given these possibilities, one cannot help asking if putting off the ADC election is related to the larger electoral politics, said the sources.

Biren Government has been proudly claiming that it has succeeded in maintaining law and order, there is peace in the society and amity between hill people and plain people, and there are no more bandhs and blockades.

But this achievement is not the sole contribution or responsibility of the four NPF MLAs.

The ADC Chairmen and the Members are also equally responsible, said the sources.

If there is no indication of the ADC election by March 31, the State may see a very turbulent situation.

The demand to roll back the creation of new districts may get intensified.

The Govt must take all these possible scenarios into consideration and decide whether the ADC election must be held now or postponed further, the sources added.

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