Imphal, Oct. 26 -- Former members of Manipur's Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) have called on the Khemchand-led government to hold the long-pending local body elections, saying the prolonged suspension of elected councils has deprived hill residents of development opportunities and their constitutional rights.

The former representatives said the delay has resulted in the loss of more than Rs 624 crore in grants from the 15th Finance Commission. They also stressed that individual legislators cannot independently address the infrastructure, healthcare and education needs of extensive hill constituencies in the absence of functioning district councils.

The impasse intensified after the terms of the last elected ADC members ended in 202...