With the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections scheduled on June 26, the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has called for free and fair elections and encouraged all the voters to resolve to stop the practice of selling their votes.
Advocating for transparently and corruption free election, the AKM has appealed to stakeholders—candidates, voters, and authorities—to uphold the principles of honesty and fairness, so that the election results reflect the genuine will of the electorate.
In a press release, AKM president, Lanutoshi Aier and general secretary, Satemmongba said that Aos have been recognized as pioneers in various spheres of life, and therefore the community should extend this pioneering spirit in their approach towards governance and development.
AKM also encouraged the Ao community to engage in critical democratic process with vision, integrity, and a commitment to progress.
“We must prove ourselves as visionaries, capable of leading our communities toward a brighter and more sustainable future”, AKM said. Noting that change must begin from the grassroots, AKM said that it was through local level that everyday lives were most impacted, and the real and tangible improvements in the communities could take place through local governance.
AKM therefore encouraged every voter to consider the long-term benefits in choosing the policies and leaders. Further, AKM urged all members of the community to participate actively in the ULB elections, to vote conscientiously, and to support candidates who embody the values of vision, integrity, and dedication to public service.