Lok Sabha polls 2024: Over 24,000 displaced people in Manipur to vote from relief camps

Manipur Lok Sabha Elections 2024: A total of 2,955 polling stations will be set up in the state.

Eleven months of conflict, more than 50,000 displaced people and anti-poll sentiment among a minority – the violence-hit Manipur Election Commission is bracing for the daunting task of holding Lok Sabha elections in a state with calm polling scenes.

Chief Electoral Officer Pradeep Kumar Jha said over 24,500 displaced persons have been identified as eligible to vote in the upcoming elections and special arrangements have been made for them to move from Voting in the relief camps.

“A total of 2,955 polling stations will be set up in the state for the Lok Sabha elections, of which about 50 per cent are identified as sensitive, vulnerable or critical polling stations. We are also setting up 94 special polling stations to facilitate voters to vote for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) “, Jia told PTI.

Vulnerability mapping of hamlets, villages and constituencies prone to threats and intimidation was conducted ahead of the polls as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) norms.

“We have set up task forces to treat these voters with empathy and we have also launched voter awareness campaigns. These campaigns have been designed keeping in mind the emotions of the displaced people, who have lost the comfort of their homes and have some frustrations and negativity level,” he added.

On May 3 last year, a “tribal unity march” was organized in the hills to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, following which ethnic clashes broke out in the state, killing at least 219 people.

Currently, most of the more than 50,000 IDPs live in relief centers in five valley areas and three mountainous areas.

Manipur Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 19 and 26, and the voting arrangements for the displaced people have attracted attention.

Some civil society groups and affected people have been questioning the meaning of the election in the conflict-torn state. There have also been calls from multiple quarters to boycott the polls.

Sharing statistics, Jha said the state has over 20 lakh voters, out of which women voters outnumber men.

“The state has traditionally had very high turnout in previous elections, which reflects confidence in the electoral process. Even if some people feel negative about it, we are working hard to raise awareness and make every vote count , take some confidence-building measures,” he said.

Asked about the security arrangements for the polls, Jha said more than 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been allocated to the state.

“The idea is not only to ensure that displaced voters do not miss out but also to make them feel safe. Adequate security arrangements are being made across the state. Video surveillance has been started and entry and exit points are being monitored… Considering the The conflict in the state, obviously there are concerns about safety, but those concerns are being addressed,” he said.

Party posters, large rallies and visible leadership events – traditional elements of campaigning – are conspicuously missing in violence-hit Manipur, where voting for Lok Sabha elections is due to take place in less than two weeks.

The only visible signs of the impending election were signs put up by local electoral authorities urging citizens to exercise their right to vote.

Amid the calm electoral atmosphere, none of the major party figures traveled to the conflict-torn state to canvass votes or make electoral promises.

Jha acknowledged that the movement was low-key in the state but insisted there were no restrictions from the EC.

“There are no restrictions on campaigning on the part of the Election Commission. Anything within the ambit of the model code of conduct is allowed,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)