Elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Voting will be held in the first phase in some areas of Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur on April 19, while the remaining areas of Outer Manipur will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
मणिपुर: ‘मैं क्यों दूं वोट? चुनाव का हमारे लिए कोई मायने नहीं’, राहत शिविरों में रह रहे लोग बोले मतदान के अधिकार से पहले है जीने का अधिकार
Elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. “Why should I vote to elect a representative of a place that is no longer mine…,” says Nobi, who is living in a relief camp after losing her home 11 months ago due to caste violence in Manipur over the elections. Elections have no meaning for us.
Nobby, 42, is not the only person who thinks so. Many people who are unable to return to their homes due to hostilities and clashes between ethnic groups in the northeastern state believe that “the right to life comes before the right to vote” and that “peace matters more than voting” .
Voting percentage in Manipur is traditionally very high. Last time during the general elections held in 2019, there was more than 82 percent voting in the state, but this time caste violence is impacting the elections and many civil society groups and affected people are questioning the relevance of holding elections in the current circumstances. .
Nobi told PTI, “The government has not been able to ensure my right to live with dignity and now they are ensuring my right to vote?” Burnt before our eyes. I and my family had to leave from there overnight. We don’t even know what’s left there.” Nobby said, “Why should I vote for a representative of a place that is no longer mine? It’s all a gimmick… elections don’t matter to us.” The hill state has witnessed several ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki community since May 3 last year, resulting in the loss of more than 200 lives. Is.
Elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Voting will be held in the first phase in some areas of Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur on April 19, while the remaining areas of Outer Manipur will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
Officials said more than 50,000 people were living in camps following the unrest. PTI visited four relief camps in Imphal Valley where displaced people expressed dissatisfaction over the election process. Dima (18) completed his schooling under the shadow of conflict. She said she didn’t know what she would do next.
Dima told PTI, “How can I plan further studies in such a situation? Why should I waste my first vote at a time when I feel elections should not be held… I will not vote.”
The Election Commission has announced that the displaced population will get the opportunity to cast their votes from relief camps. K H Khamba (45) ran his transport business in the Kuki-dominated area of Moreh town near the Indian-Myanmar border, 120 km from his relief camp.
He said, “Some solution to the current situation should have been found before holding elections.” Asked whether he would cast his vote, Khamba said, “We are consulting amongst ourselves about this right now but One thing is certain that we are not happy with the timing of elections in the state.
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