CCSK remembers Oct 18, 1948

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 18: The formation of the first democratically elected Government of Manipur before the State's merger with India was remembered today.
October 18, 1948, marks the historic inaugural session of the first elected Manipur Legislative Assembly following elections held under the Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947.
The Committee of Civil Societies, Kangleipak (CCSK) observed the day under the banner "Kangleipak Manipur gi Puwarida Meeyam gi Ahanba Leingak Leikhiba Numit" at Citizen's Club, Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Khunou, Imphal East.
Wangkhei MLA Th Arunkumar, CCSK president Jeetendra Ningombam, retired IAS officer RK  Nimai,  head of Law Department MU Professor Y Premananda, JNIMS Hospital Medical Superintendent Professor Dr N Kameshshwor, Manipur University CSSEIP Associate Professor Th Bharat, Dhanamanjuri University Associate Professor K Indrakumar Singh and former Citizens Club president M Gojen Meitei attended the event.
At the observance, Jeetendra Ningombam said that the first ever democratic elections elected 53 Members to the State Assembly, and 49 of them met at the Darbar Hall for the first time on october 18, 1948.
While some have argued that the sitting was not a Assembly sitting but a Parliamentary session, the idea remains the same---that Manpiur was an independent State and it had its own Government elected through universal adult franchise, Jeetendra said.
He further stressed that the Government had the representation of different communities who were given different portfolios  to make it inclusive.