ATSUM raises election call again

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 25 : The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) along with the people will launch stringent agitation if the notification to hold ADC (Autonomous District Council) elections is not issued at the earliest, said the student body today.
At its office at Adimjati Complex Chingmeirong, ATSUM’s general secretary SR Andria said ADCs are vital democratic institutions for grassroots governance in the hill districts and as such the elections to these ADCs should be held on time at the earliest.
Earlier, the Government had extended the tenure of the Members of the ADCs for six months and assured to hold the elections in November/December last year. ATSUM and the Government had also inked an agreement for holding the elections in time. Moreover, as elections require preparations, ATSUM had been waiting patiently trusting the Government to hold the pending elections even after the end of the stipulated time. However, the Government is not keen on holding the elections till today and is playing “delaying tactics'', he said.
If the notification to hold the elections is not issued at the earliest, ATSUM along with other civil bodies and the people will launch stringent agitation, he added.