“WE DO NOT feel like voting. No candidate has come to see us. But as a citizen of the country, I do not want to disregard my right,” said K. Surjit Singh from Motbung, a Meitei village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur. His village has been erased in the nearly year-long Meitei-Kuki ethnic strife, and he now stays in Imphal’s biggest relief camp in Lamboikhongnangkhong. The same sentiment is echoed by Jaminlal Haokip, a Kuki from Imphal’s Langol area, who is now in a relief camp in Churachandpur.
These two are part of a large section of Manipuris—those affected by the violence—who seem to have no interest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, to be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Take, for instance, Leichombam, a journalist with 23 years of experience. After a busy day of reporting for his news website, he motorcycles to Khumbong in Imphal West at night to protect his village. Every day, he spends time in a bunker till 1am, and once a week, he dedicates an entire night to guarding his village. “People from all walks of life are volunteering to guard their villages, including doctors and teachers,” he said.
The election season is subdued, with few banners or party flags in Imphal. Instead, the city is filled with Election Commission billboards urging people to vote. The seven-colour Salai Taret flags of the Meitei community are now widespread throughout the valley; this was rare before the ethnic strife. The flags represent belief and solidarity, and are sometimes a marker of a Meitei house or shop. The EC and political parties are concerned about low voter turnout because of the violence, which has flared up again after a month of calm.
On April 12, a Meitei youth was shot in Tengnoupal district. The following day, sporadic violence erupted in Phailengmol village, which borders the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district and the Meitei-dominated Imphal East district. Two Kuki youth who were guarding their area were killed, their bodies were mutilated and dragged along the ground. Videos of this went viral, intensifying the hostility between the communities. Security agencies and political parties are now concerned that more violence could erupt during and after the election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited the state since the start of the violence. Amit Shah is the top BJP leader to campaign this time. Rahul Gandhi, who had come during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, is also missing from the campaign trail. In fact, leaders from Delhi have little to say to the people, and a section of the Meitei community, which initially supported the Biren Singh government, is now openly criticising both the state and Central governments.
“Business has slowed down significantly. We have been suffering for the past year, and the women have borne the brunt of it. We will determine who goes to Parliament,” said Vinodini Devi, a 78-year-old who has been selling clothes at Imphal’s famous Ima Keithel (Mothers’ Market) for the past 25 years. Some of the imas (mothers) had said they would boycott the election, but the majority say that they will exercise their right to choose the correct candidate.
Amid all the political unrest, the Congress is highlighting the shortcomings of the ‘double-engine’ government. The party has chosen Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, an associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Social Sciences, as its candidate for Inner Manipur, which consists of Meitei-dominated areas in the Imphal valley. He, along with the party’s Outer Manipur candidate Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur, have been facing continuous threats. A group of individuals stormed the former’s house in Imphal, threatened his family and demanded that he withdraw from the race. On April 12, three gunmen fired shots at his rally venue in Moirang, forcing him to cancel the programme and return to Imphal. He has been given Central Reserve Police Force protection. He claimed that some people were trying to sabotage the elections by suppressing people’s true sentiments. Similarly, miscreants have twice fired shots in the air at Alfred’s campaign venue in Ukhrul.
Being a non-political figure, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam is gaining widespread acceptance from people who are tired of traditional politicians. Many non-political people are actively campaigning for him; they see in him a chance to usher in a new era for Manipur.
Meanwhile, Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, the BJP candidate in Inner Manipur and a former IPS officer and state education minister, is facing tough questions from the public. “Of course people are asking questions, and we are addressing their concerns,” he told THE WEEK. “When we explain the ground realities, people understand. Many initiatives were undertaken during Covid, but they have been overshadowed by the current situation. During my campaign, I am instilling hope in people that we can all coexist and live peacefully, except for illegal immigrants.”
The BJP’s campaign focuses on showcasing the achievements of the party and the Central government, along with highlighting various developmental activities in the state.
The election in Outer Manipur, which mainly consists of the Naga and Kuki Hills, and a few Meitei areas, is being conducted in two phases; this is the first time a single constituency will vote on two separate days. Previous years have seen rampant poll rigging, and elections in the hills are often influenced by village chiefs and civil society organisations.
The Naga People’s Front, an ally of the BJP, has nominated former IRS officer Kachui Timothy Zimik for the Outer Manipur seat. The Kukis have not fielded a candidate. “We are not in a position to engage in an election, but we are not boycotting the election. We have asked the community members to vote,” said Muan Tombing, general secretary of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, a frontal organisation of Kuki groups.
High security has been deployed along the borders to prevent potential attacks. In the Kwakta area, between Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts and dominated by Meitei Pangals (Muslims), various security forces including the Army have set up seven consecutive checkpoints on a 2km stretch to deter infiltration attempts. The border area of Bishnupur, previously fortified with bunkers by Meitei volunteers, is now largely occupied by the Army and paramilitary forces. Watchtowers and searchlights have also been installed.
As the election unfolds, life in Manipur, particularly in the Imphal valley, has become increasingly challenging because of widespread extortion and the unbridled presence of armed groups. In the Kuki hills, there is a shortage of essential items, with many places being isolated from the mainland. No wonder then that the elections are not a priority for many Manipuris.