First sitting of the 1st Assembly held in 1948 widely observed CCSK commemorates

IMPHAL, Oct 18 : The Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) commemorated the first sitting of the first Manipur Legislative Assembly which marked the establishment of an elected Government in Manipur after the end of British colonial rule.
Speaking at the commemorative function held at JN Manipur Dance Academy, veteran politician Dr M Nara said that the first sitting of the first elected Assembly of Manipur was held on October 18, 1948.
He asserted that the present generation needs to know the significance of the day.    
Dr Nara said that free and fair elections are indispensable if there should be good governance.
CCSK president Jeetendra Ningomba said that Manipur once again became an independent country and an elected Government was established for the first time on October 18, 1948.  
Knowing well that Manipur could no longer exist under monarchy, the leaders of the time chose a democratic form of Government which would be elected through universal adult franchise.
Thus elections were held in two phases for the first time in Manipur in 1948, Jeetendra said.
Manipur/Kangleipak was the second country in South East Asia to hold elections based on universal adult franchise.
It seems the new generation is not aware of the fact that Manipur was independent and it was ruled by a democratic Government before its merger with the Indian Union, he remarked.
Welcoming the Government of India’s initiative to bring peace in Manipur through direct talk between Meitei and Kuki legislators, the CCSK president asserted that the talk however should not harm the integrity of Manipur under any circumstances.
He asserted that the Government of India must always keep in mind the history of Manipur while solving any issue.
Organising committee convenor Asheiba Luwang said that the Manipur Constitution Act 1947 was enacted after Manipur became independent on August 14, 1947.
Subsequently, elections were held in the last part of June, 1948.
On October 18, 1948, Maharaj Bodhchandra opened the first sitting of the first Manipur Legislative Assembly in the Durbar Hall and thus it marked the first day of Manipur under a democratically elected Government, Asheiba said.
CSSEIP Manipur University Associate Professor Th Bharat, DM University Associate Professor K Indrakumar and NHPC former Chief Engineer M Lalmani attended the observation as guests of honour.