1. Heard Shri N. Surendrajit, learned counsel with Shri P. Tamphamani, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in W.P. (C) No. 639 of 2015 and for the private respondents in W.P. (C) No. 702 of 2015; Shri Serto T. Kom, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in W.P. (C) No. 702 of 2015 and for the private respondents in W.P. (C) No. 639 of 2015 and Shri Y. Ashang, learned Government Advocate appearing for the State Respondents.

2. Since both the writ petitions arise out of the similar set of facts, the same are disposed of by this common judgment and order.

3.1. According to the petitioners, they are the residents of Kumbi and some of them are elected as Councillors and some of them are members of the Ward Development Committee, Kumbi Municipal Council which came to be constituted under the provisions of the Manipur Municipalities Act, 1994. The Kumbi Municipal Council was upgraded from the Kumbi Nagar Panchayat with effect from 28-02-2014 vide notification dated 28-02-2014 issued by the State Government. The last election of the Kumbi Nagar Panchayat being held on 03-01-2011, the term of which will expire in January, 2016 and the following persons were declared e