Imphal, April 12 2010: For the Autonomous District Council elections scheduled to be held next month after a gap of 20 years, more than 430 aspiring candidates have submitted application forms to be nominees of the Congress party.

For the Congress party, today was the last day of submission of application forms.

Till 6 pm today, more than 430 people submitted their application forms to the MPCC office seeking nomination by the party.

This was against 540 forms issued.

Even as some organisations including political parties have been imposing bandh/blockade in protest against the Autonomous District Council Act, the Government has been continuing with its preparation to conduct the elections smoothly and peacefully.

Notification for the first phase of the poll will be issued on April 15 and for the second phase on April 22 .

For each District Council of Ukhrul, Senapati, Sadar Hills, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel, 24 members would be elected.

In addition to this, the Government would nominate two members for each of the District Council .

On the other hand, the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress has extended the period for submission of application forms till April 16 .

However, little activities could be seen being taken up by other political parties regarding the forthcoming ADC polls.

Some MLAs of hill constituencies observed people welcomed the Government's initiative to hold ADC polls since it was more than 20 years back when the last ADC poll was held.

They went on to say that the MLAs being representatives of the people wanted what the people were yearning.

The MLAs expressed strong desire to hold the elections as scheduled even though there were discontentment or opposition against the District Council Act as the same can be amended after elections from time to time.