In-order to fulfill this provision, the Parliament of India enacted the Manipur Hills Areas Autonomous District council Act 1971, the NPF stated, adding that District Council was meant for the strengthening of Indian Democracy at the District/grassroot level. Thus, the constitutional provision couldn’t be ignored by any authority or the successive Government, the NPF stated.

The NPF/MSU also stated that it “took serious note of the repeated delaying of ADC Election, since 1972 which deprived the right of Local self Government.”

“There was a time ADC election was postponed for a period of 20 Years”, it stated, adding that the last ADC Election was due in 2020. Election for this Autonomous District Council was supposed to be held in the month of May or June 2020. However, in the pretext of COVID-19 lockdown, it was not held and postponed till date, the party said.

On the other hand, in the midst of all odds the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election was held in the early part of 2022 and the 18th Lok Sabha Election 2024 was also conducted and just completed, the party said. “Therefore, the competent authority must conduct ADC election because it will be a positive step towards the fulfillment of three tire systems of Indian Democracy,” the NPF-MSU stated in the release.

It further stated that the NPF/MSU, in its state Office Bearers meeting, discussed this matter thoroughly and decided to appeal to the state government to conduct the ADC Election at the earliest possible time.

The party also appreciated and decided to cooperate with the State Cabinet Decision that, “The Election for ADC, Panchayat and Municipalities will be held in the month of September 2024,” the party stated.

The party would like to express its view that the Cabinet decision be carried out positively. If and when it fails to conduct the said election it will amount to negligence of constitutional provision for the development of Manipur Hill area, the NPF/MSU stated.