Imphal, Nov 11: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and ten tribal organizations urged residents on Sunday to refrain from participating in the upcoming Autonomous District Councils (ADC) elections in Manipur.

Manipur has six ADCs focused on the socio-economic development of the state’s tribal population, which comprises about 40% of the 3.2 million people in the region, including major tribal groups like the Nagas and Kuki-Zo among the 34 recognized tribes.

The ten tribal organizations referenced a resolution passed on October 14 by the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Following extensive discussion, the HAC unanimously recommended that the Manipur government conduct the long-delayed ADC elections at the earliest opportunity.

In a joint statement, the organizations criticized the HAC’s approach, stating that the committee, intended to represent tribal interests, had resolved to establish interim administrative bodies for each ADC until elections could take place. The interim bodies would include 20 members, with 18 drawn from former ADC members, experts in local governance, intellectuals, and eminent local figures, alongside two government nominees.

However, the tribal groups argued that the resolution excluded Kuki-Zo MLAs from the decision-making process, making it unacceptable. They called the HAC’s move “contentious, deceptive, and highly undesirable,” particularly as the call for ADC elections comes during a period of intense ethnic conflict.

“Why push for elections now, amidst ongoing violence, when no local body elections have been held since 2016?” the statement questioned, underscoring concerns about the timing and motives behind the electoral push.

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