Imphal, May 16 2010: Manipur government has arranged secured shelters for the candidates particularly the Naga candidates contesting the upcoming elections to the District Councils as the deadline set by the United Naga Council, Manipur to withdraw the candidatures is due to expire by midnight today.

Candidates of the ADC elections of five districts receiving threats will be staying at SAI Youth Hostel and State Youth Centre at Khuman Lampak, Imphal, the additional DGP of Manipur Police informed the Commanding Officer of the 2nd IRB responsible for the protection of the multi-disciplines sport complex asking the later to take care of them by detailing armed personnel at the two lodgings.

SPs of the Imphal east and west districts have also been asked to provide additional security to the candidates in addition to the present security personnel detailing at the two hostels, an official source in the police department said Sunday.

A total of 50-60 sixty candidates will be staying at the SAI Youth Hostel while at 40-50 candidates are expected to stay in the State Youth Centre, the official added.

Filing of nominations in the two phase elections to six ADCs in five hill districts, Senapati, Sadar Hill (within Senapati district), Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul districts had already completed.

The last date of withdrawal of candidatures had also over for both phases.

Elections are scheduled on May 26 and June 2 next but for the Naga ADCs in Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel polling will be conducted only in 27 ADC constituencies as lone candidates in most of the constituencies declared elected uncontested except in few constituency where none filed nominations.

Out of 24 seats in each ADCs, only one each filed nominations in Senapati in 20 seats and state election commission declared them elected uncontested, in Ukhrul 21 candidates declared elected uncontested, 12 in Tamenglong district while 18 in Chandel district.

However, except in around nine constituencies, many candidates are in the fray in Kuki dominated Churachandpur and Sadar Hill ADCs, according to reports compiled from district election authorities.

The Congress has taken the advantage of the chaotic situation in electing maximum numbers of candidates uncontested as 48 candidates elected uncontested were party nominees, a source from the Manipur Pradesh Congress said.

The elections process for the ADC election was amidst the strong oppositions from Naga based NGOs and imposition of economic blockade on the highways by the ANSAM since before the issued of the notification of the elections.

The United Naga Council, a body strongly opposing the holding of the election to the district council under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act 2008, on Saturday had asked the Naga candidate to return their candidatures within 24-hour stating that they filed the nominations against the decision of the Council taken in an consultative meeting of the "Naga frontal organisations" held at Ukhrul, Taphou, Tadubi, Kangshang, Chandel and Tamenglong in series in the recent time.

While setting the deadline by midnight of tonight, the UNC also reiterated that the Consultative Meetings unanimously rejected the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Act 2008 in its present form and content.

Those who non-compliance with the warning will be treated as "Anti-people and Anti-national and the council will not be responsible for dare consequences on account of the non-compliance, the UNC warmed.

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