Newmai News Network
Imphal | March 2
The high-voltage campaigning for the first phase of Manipur assembly polls came to an end at 3 pm today. Manipur is voting first of its two-phase elections on March 4.
However, incidences of violence among workers of rival candidates increased throughout the pre-poll period in different parts of the state.
Polling will take place at 1643 polling stations spread over Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts in the first phase. The main contenders of the two-phase polls will be the Congress and BJP.
In the first phase election, a total of 168 candidates from 38 constituencies are in the fray. The second and final phase of the elections is scheduled to take place on March 8.
“All polling stations will be covered by web casting online and offline,” Chief Election Commissioner Vivek Kumar Dewangan told media at a press meet in his office, Lamphel.
Dewangan said, “We’re covering all the events inside polling stations with smartphones. If you do anything wrong inside polling station that will be captured and immediate action will be taken.”
He assured the electors and all political parties that if anything goes around a polling station, the Election Commission will not hesitate to order re-poll.
Pre-poll violent incidents were reported from different places in Imphal triggering protests. Some unidentified people opened fire on a polling station at Wangkhei Angom Leikai today around 4:30 am.
Unknown people planted a bomb near the office of Sagolband Development Association located at Sagolband Moirang Leirak yesterday around 9:30 pm.
Yet again last night, the residence of BJP Yuva Morcha Manipur Pradesh vice-president M Bali Sharma was attacked by some miscreants who also pelted stones causing some damage to the house and some properties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the star campaigner of BJP had addressed an election rally in Imphal to campaign for his party. Congress star campaigner and AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi also addressed an election rally here.
The Manipur polls are also seen as a test of Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s popularity.
The BJP harped on corruption issue in attacking the ruling Congress during the campaign while the Congress attacked the saffron party on the issue of Naga peace accord and promised to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur.
BJP is fielding candidates in all the 38 constituencies while Congress has put up 37. The results of the two-phase elections will be declared on March 11.
Manifestos fail to impress the people
Newmai News Network
Imphal | March 2
The election manifestos of major political parties in the ensuing Manipur assembly election have failed to impress the people. Most of the political parties are "beating the same drum" as were in the past assembly elections, according to activist Grace Jajo.
Senior journalist A Mobi Singh said, “We do not think election manifestos of major parties like Congress and BJP for the polls are impressive to the people". He also said that almost all the candidates put up by Congress and BJP are all “tested faces.”
For activist Ngachonmi Chamroy from Ukhrul district, only the valley will have the impact of territorial integrity and blockade issues in the ensuing state polls.
In the valley, it is the the perturbation over the territorial integrity and blockade issues. The economic blockade imposed by UNC since November 1, 2016 has seriously affected normal life and the economy of the state.
Amid hurling of accusation and charges against the other by the political parties in Manipur on blockade and Naga political issue, senior advocate Khaidem Mani Singh said the matter vis-à-vis removal of blockade only has to do with the state government.
“The Centre needs to provide the logistic support to the state government to open the blockade. The notion that both the Centre and Manipur government should act on together is wrong,” the noted advocate said. “Any agreement that may reach at between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) must not hurt the interests of the people of Manipur,” the advocate said.
Activist Grace Jajo said the state government created seven new districts 'provoking' the Nagas on the eve of the state assembly polls is a step aimed at gaining political mileage. She said the Congress which has been in power for the last 15 years has a repeated manifesto for the ensuing polls.
“Congress has completely left out some important issues like “militarization” and that improvement of law and order situation is nothing new in the party’s manifesto,” Grace Jajo said. She also expressed unhappiness over neglecting the issue of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the poll manifestos of political parties. “The Congress is beating the same drum leaving out important issues. There’s nothing significant promise mentioned in the party’s manifesto,” the activist pointed out.
Although a lot of issues are there, the mindset of the electorate will be known after the two-phase polls to be held on March 4 and 8, according to A Robindro Sharma, editor of Imphal-based Poknapham daily newspaper.
He said the main contenders of the ensuing polls are Congress and BJP which have been launching attacks each other on the issues of blockade, Framework Agreement and territorial integrity. “It’s quite natural for political parties to get into fights during electioneering,” he said.
