Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: The Manipur government has scheduled the sixth general elections for its Panchayati Raj Institutions for October 1, 2026. This decision follows approval from the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The polls serve five valley districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Commissioner Sumant Singh released the official election timeline on Tuesday. The formal notification process begins on August 21, with candidate nominations accepted through August 28. Officials will conduct nomination scrutiny on August 29, and candidates have until September 1 to withdraw from the race. Should any disruptions occur, the government has set aside October 5 for re-polling, with final vote counting scheduled for October 8.
These elections address a vacancy that has existed since the previous terms expired in 2022. An initial attempt to hold the vote in June 2023 was postponed due to the state's security climate, leaving administrative committees to oversee local governance in the interim. The cabinet's move follows a directive from the High Court of Manipur issued earlier this year.
Highlighting the state's focus on local democracy, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh stated on X that his government is committed to providing "effective, transparent and people-oriented governance aimed at the welfare and progress of the people of Manipur."
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