Since the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha polls on March 16, Manipur has enjoyed relative peace, with no significant incidents of violence reported. Chief Electoral Officer Pradeep Kumar Jha expressed confidence that the upcoming voting in the state's two parliamentary seats will proceed smoothly and peacefully.
Jha noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed 162 companies, totaling around 14,600 personnel, of central armed police forces (CAPF) to facilitate the Lok Sabha elections in Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies. Regular security assessments are underway, with CAPF personnel working alongside state forces to maintain law and order, conduct area domination, and build confidence among the populace.
The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat is scheduled for polling in the first phase on April 19, while voting in the Outer Manipur seat, reserved for tribals, will occur in two phases—on April 19 and April 26.
Highlighting the electoral arrangements for displaced voters, Jha mentioned that over 24,500 eligible voters currently residing in over 300 relief camps due to ethnic violence will cast their ballots at 94 special polling stations during the two-phase elections. These special polling stations will be established in relief camps across 10 of the state's 16 districts, allowing many displaced individuals to vote in their original places of residence.
The Election Commission, under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, recently convened in New Delhi to review the law and order situation in various states, including Manipur, ahead of the 7-phase Lok Sabha elections commencing on April 19. A six-member Election Commission team, led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma, conducted a thorough assessment of election preparedness in the state.
Last year, ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities erupted in Manipur on May 3, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' protesting the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The violence resulted in over 220 casualties and more than 2,000 injuries among both communities, along with extensive damage to private and government properties. Over 70,000 individuals, including women and children from both communities, were displaced and sought refuge in safer locations within the state and neighboring Mizoram.
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