Manipur : Living sans elected bodies
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Mangal Khundongbam
India’s Constitution is not merely a book of laws, tt is a promise that every person will have a say in how they are governed.
Democracy means power belongs to the people.
Since February 2025, Manipur has been surviving in the absence of an elected Government, non functioning State Assembly and no local bodies. Delaying Urban local bodies (ULB) and ADCs elections for years is against Constitution and keeping governance under bureaucracy is not stability; it is silencing the people’s spirit.
Constitutional obligations : Article 356 of the Indian Constitution permits President’s Rule which is meant to be temporary. But in Manipur, this "temporary" state has stretched endlessly without giving valid reasons. In many landmark judgments like SR Bommai vs Union of India clearly stated that Article 356, though Constitutionally valid, must be used in exceptional circumstances-never as a tool for political advantages. The Court also ruled that the President’s satisfaction in proclamation of President’s Rule is not absolute and can be judicially reviewed.
Article 243E and 243U state that Every Panchayat and Municipalities elections must be held every five year. The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized—in cases such as Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad (2006) and State of Rajasthan vs Union of India (1977) — that the dissolution or delay of elected bodies must remain an exception, never the norm.
Even though ADCs in Manipur were not originally included in Sixth Schedule they were created under the Manipur (Hill areas) District Councils Act 1971 which was enacted to provide self governance to the hill tribal communities of the State and their Constitutional status were derived from the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Paragraph 2(1) of the sixth schedule provides the same for ADCs election in the hill districts.
By ignoring these obligations our democratic foun- dations are being quietly eroded. The very principle that "Power belongs to the people" is now just on paper. Beyond legal debates, this crisis seeps into everyday life-where the absence of elected representatives leaves people voiceless.
Bureaucrats rule by files not by feelings, administration becomes faceless and governance loses empathy. The connection between people and Govt lies broken-broken bridges, da- maged roads, shortage of teachers in schools, living history demolished , no free movement even on National Highways.
Manipur has a total of 30 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), 6 District Pancha-yats, 161 Gram Panchayats and 6 Autonomous district Councils (ADCs).
Impact : The repercussions of this democratic void are felt in every street, village and hillside. In cities, urban bodies are responsible for basic civic services-street lighting, waste management, sanitation, water supply etc. Without elected representatives these vital tasks are left to bureaucratic committees. Public grievances go unheard and urban development slows to a crawl creating an invisible yet tangible impact on daily life.
Like in Rural and Hill areas the important task that was managed by elected leaders are now in the hands of committees. In Hill areas ADCs are a symbol of self governance, they manage forest, health, education, agriculture etc.
Bureacrats now administer policies without the lived perspective of local people, weake- ning trust in governance. In a democratic system, the role of bureaucracy is to assist and implement the decisions of elected representatives-not to govern in their place. When bureaucracy assumes full power, it undermines the very spirit of democracy and silences the people's voice.
A Call for Democratic Restoration
Manipur today needs more than administrative control; it needs trust, participation and represen- tation. Restoring an elected Government and conducting overdue local elections are essential.
The State Election Commission must immediately schedule and conduct Urban Local Body (ULB) and Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. Elections should be conducted transparently and inclusively, with special attention to safeguarding reserved seats for women, youth, and marginalized communities. Bureaucrats must serve as facilitators, not substitutes for elected representatives.
Restoring a popular Govt in Manipur is not merely a political exercise — it is a moral and democratic imperative. For this, leaders at both the State and Central levels must demonstrate genuine political will, guided by a people-centric vision rather than partisan interests. They must act with sincerity and urgency, deeply attuned to the hardships, aspirations, and everyday struggles of the citizens whose voices have been sidelined.
True democracy thrives when those in power listen, respond, and act in the interest of the people. Politicians must recognize the pulse of the people and uphold the very foundations of representative governance.
If the Constitutional and administrative conditions exist to lift President’s Rule, doing so should become the highest priority. Delay not only undermines governance but erodes trust, alienates communities, and dims the vibrancy of democratic life in the state.
The people of Manipur deserve leadership that respect their voice, restore their agency, and revive the democratic spirit. Bringing back elected Government is not just about holding elections; it is about reclaiming the essence of democracy—a Government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
India’s Constitution is not merely a book of laws, tt is a promise that every person will have a say in how they are governed.
Democracy means power belongs to the people.
Since February 2025, Manipur has been surviving in the absence of an elected Government, non functioning State Assembly and no local bodies. Delaying Urban local bodies (ULB) and ADCs elections for years is against Constitution and keeping governance under bureaucracy is not stability; it is silencing the people’s spirit.
Constitutional obligations : Article 356 of the Indian Constitution permits President’s Rule which is meant to be temporary. But in Manipur, this "temporary" state has stretched endlessly without giving valid reasons. In many landmark judgments like SR Bommai vs Union of India clearly stated that Article 356, though Constitutionally valid, must be used in exceptional circumstances-never as a tool for political advantages. The Court also ruled that the President’s satisfaction in proclamation of President’s Rule is not absolute and can be judicially reviewed.
Article 243E and 243U state that Every Panchayat and Municipalities elections must be held every five year. The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized—in cases such as Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad (2006) and State of Rajasthan vs Union of India (1977) — that the dissolution or delay of elected bodies must remain an exception, never the norm.
Even though ADCs in Manipur were not originally included in Sixth Schedule they were created under the Manipur (Hill areas) District Councils Act 1971 which was enacted to provide self governance to the hill tribal communities of the State and their Constitutional status were derived from the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Paragraph 2(1) of the sixth schedule provides the same for ADCs election in the hill districts.
By ignoring these obligations our democratic foun- dations are being quietly eroded. The very principle that "Power belongs to the people" is now just on paper. Beyond legal debates, this crisis seeps into everyday life-where the absence of elected representatives leaves people voiceless.
Bureaucrats rule by files not by feelings, administration becomes faceless and governance loses empathy. The connection between people and Govt lies broken-broken bridges, da- maged roads, shortage of teachers in schools, living history demolished , no free movement even on National Highways.
Manipur has a total of 30 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), 6 District Pancha-yats, 161 Gram Panchayats and 6 Autonomous district Councils (ADCs).
Impact : The repercussions of this democratic void are felt in every street, village and hillside. In cities, urban bodies are responsible for basic civic services-street lighting, waste management, sanitation, water supply etc. Without elected representatives these vital tasks are left to bureaucratic committees. Public grievances go unheard and urban development slows to a crawl creating an invisible yet tangible impact on daily life.
Like in Rural and Hill areas the important task that was managed by elected leaders are now in the hands of committees. In Hill areas ADCs are a symbol of self governance, they manage forest, health, education, agriculture etc.
Bureacrats now administer policies without the lived perspective of local people, weake- ning trust in governance. In a democratic system, the role of bureaucracy is to assist and implement the decisions of elected representatives-not to govern in their place. When bureaucracy assumes full power, it undermines the very spirit of democracy and silences the people's voice.
A Call for Democratic Restoration
Manipur today needs more than administrative control; it needs trust, participation and represen- tation. Restoring an elected Government and conducting overdue local elections are essential.
The State Election Commission must immediately schedule and conduct Urban Local Body (ULB) and Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. Elections should be conducted transparently and inclusively, with special attention to safeguarding reserved seats for women, youth, and marginalized communities. Bureaucrats must serve as facilitators, not substitutes for elected representatives.
Restoring a popular Govt in Manipur is not merely a political exercise — it is a moral and democratic imperative. For this, leaders at both the State and Central levels must demonstrate genuine political will, guided by a people-centric vision rather than partisan interests. They must act with sincerity and urgency, deeply attuned to the hardships, aspirations, and everyday struggles of the citizens whose voices have been sidelined.
True democracy thrives when those in power listen, respond, and act in the interest of the people. Politicians must recognize the pulse of the people and uphold the very foundations of representative governance.
If the Constitutional and administrative conditions exist to lift President’s Rule, doing so should become the highest priority. Delay not only undermines governance but erodes trust, alienates communities, and dims the vibrancy of democratic life in the state.
The people of Manipur deserve leadership that respect their voice, restore their agency, and revive the democratic spirit. Bringing back elected Government is not just about holding elections; it is about reclaiming the essence of democracy—a Government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.