Imphal, Jan. 18: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today announced that elections to the autonomous district councils in the state would be held soon. Addressing a Congress party convention on panchayati raj at Imphal?s Gandhi Memorial hall today, Ibobi Singh regretted that though polls to municipal bodies, nagar panchayats and zila parishads were held regularly, election to the district councils have not been conducted for the past 12 years.
The chief minister said the Secular Progressive Front government would discuss with the tribal development minister the issue of holding the proposed elections to the district councils as soon as possible. ?If there is a disparity between the hills and the valley in development works by local bodies, no peaceful co-existence among communities can take place?. Ibobi Singh suggested that the PCC should raise the demand for extension of the Sixth Schedule to the hills of Manipur. The Congress leaders in New Delhi will support such a demand, he added.
Though Parliament amended the Panchayati Raj Act 10 years ago, the Act is not fully implemented in Manipur, AICC general secretary, in charge of the Northeast, Mani Shankar Aiyar said.
He urged Ibobi Singh to fully implement the Act.
Aiyar said only when administrative as well as financial support is given to the local bodies, can they function effectively.