Northeast witnesses peaceful district council elections

Imphal, May 17 : Elections for autonomous hill district councils in the northeast, are responsible for the socio-economic development of the tribal dominated hill-districts witnessed peaceful voting recently.

People in Tripura turned out in large numbers to vote.

Unfortunately, in Manipur, the Nagas opposed the elections.

To reap the peace dividend, people in Tripura's Hill Districts turned up in large numbers to cast their vote, for the 30-seat sixth Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Over 160 candidates belonging to various political parties, including ten women candidates, contested the election.

For the first time, electronic photo identity cards were made compulsory for the voters.

"We have come here to vote, which started at 7 in the morning. Till now it is going on very systematically. There is a long queue of voters as people turned out in good numbers and there are adequate security personnel here," said Naba Kumar Debbarma, a voter

The scenario in Manipur, however, is very different.

The Nagas are opposing the election, scheduled to be held on May 26, until their demand to amend the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act- (Third Amendment) 2008 is fulfilled.

Except the Nagas, the other 28 tribal communities in the state are in favour of holding the elections.

The indefinite economic blockade and a three-days shutdown called by some Naga organizations like the United Naga Council (UNC) and All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) and the Manipur Tribal Joint Action Committee, have disrupted normal life.

Sources reveal that Naga bodies in Manipur have the support of Naga militant outfits, which don't want elections and development in the region.

"We feel the pain of people who are affected by the blockade. We express our regret on that. It is not only the valley people who are suffering. People in the hill districts are also suffering," said David Choro, the President, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur

The elections in six Manipur hill districts are being held after 20 years.

People have been demanding the holding of elections, but there are some groups who wanted to divide Manipur and are opposing it.

Despite the opposition of the Naga groups, the state government is gearing up to ensure that people in the state can exercise their fundamental right to vote.