Imphal: There are less than 2 weeks left for voting for the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur, but neither posters of political parties are visible in the state, nor big rallies are being held. Even the movement of leaders in the state is not visible. In the name of elections, only a few hoardings put up by local election officials are visible in the state, through which people have been requested to exercise their franchise. Amidst the silent election environment, prominent leaders of political parties are avoiding visiting the state for campaigning.
No big leader visited Manipur
While the BJP has listed prominent personalities like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as star campaigners, the Congress’ list of campaigners includes Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other prominent leaders. However, no one has visited Manipur yet. The Manipur Election Commission has said there is no official ban on campaign activities, although representatives of political parties are doing less campaigning to avoid aggravating the delicate situation in the state.
‘There is no ban on election campaigning’
Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Pradeep Jha said, ‘No restriction has been imposed on election campaign by the Election Commission. Anything that comes within the purview of the model code of conduct is allowed. To deal with the difficult situation, BJP candidate Thaunaojam Basant Kumar Singh, Congress’s Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Republican Party of India’s Maheshwar Thaunaojam and Manipur People’s Party (MPP)-backed Rajmukar Somendro Singh have come forward with unique solutions. They are reaching out to voters in non-traditional ways including holding meetings at their residences or party offices and door-to-door campaigning of supporters.
‘Voters know the importance of their vote’
Maheshwar Thounaojam, who deployed teams of volunteers for door-to-door campaigning, said, ‘It would have been better if I addressed public meetings and held rallies, but I have decided to keep the campaign limited. In the current situation, voters know the importance of their vote and will choose wisely. The outgoing Education and Law Minister of the state Basant Kumar Singh is contesting the Lok Sabha elections this time. He is holding small meetings at his residence and party office. Similarly, Professor Akoizam of Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University mostly meets people at his residence.
‘Elections are important for us, but…’
There are posters put up at the Congress office in Imphal in support of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and Akoizam. BJP Manipur unit president A. Sharda Devi said, ‘Elections are important for us but we cannot rub salt on people’s wounds by pomp and show. Elections are also like a festival but we cannot celebrate the festival with enthusiasm due to the current situation. People are staying away from their homes, we want them to trust us, although we are not campaigning.
Ethnic conflict started in the state on May 3
A senior state government official said any vigorous campaign could be detrimental to the law and order situation in the state. “Though the situation is currently under control, any vigorous campaign could be detrimental to the law and order situation in the state and no party wants to take that risk,” the officer said, requesting anonymity. At least 219 people have been killed in the caste conflict that broke out in the state on May 3 last year after a ‘tribal solidarity march’ was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for ST status.
Candidates are not reaching the camps
The two-phase Lok Sabha elections in Manipur on April 19 and 26 have drawn attention to the voting arrangements of the displaced population. Voting arrangements are being made in the relief camps, although the candidates have not visited there yet. “Some party workers have come once or twice but no candidate has come,” said Dima, a mother of two and living in a relief camp in the Meitei-dominated Kwakithem area. Meanwhile, the situation is similar in Kuki community dominated areas like Moreh and Churachandpur. Some Kuki factions and social groups have also called for a boycott of the elections. (Language)
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