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Manipur : Electioneering picks up

	January 29, 2007

In the troubled Manipur which is often rocked by people’s movements against Government’s policies and programmes to tackle insurgency, electioneering is now getting hot with political parties releasing lists of their candidates.



The ruling Congress headed by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has finally come out with the list of candidates who will be contesting the 60 seats for the Assembly elections slated next month in three phases. The party could not publish the names earlier because of clamouring for party tickets by party men as well as prospective candidates, who have recently joined from other parties.



The party has given tickets to almost all sitting MLAs and ministers. Two of the party MLAs resigned recently and are contesting from other platforms.



On Jan. 25, the opposition United Naga Council (UNC) announced the names of six candidates in Ukhrul and Senapati, two of the four Naga-dominated districts of the state.



The two districts will go to the polls along with Thoubal on February 8. Nineteen constituencies will cast their votes in the first phase of elections. Nagas are in a majority in six of them.





CPI for more security in Manipur



The CPI, a constituent partner of the ruling coalition, has urged the Election Commission to make stringent security arrangements for free and fair polls in the hills.



Alarmed at the diktat issued by the United Naga Council, the apex body of the tribal groups, to the electorate of the four Naga-dominated districts to back only the Independent candidates who supported the “Naga cause”, party general secretary A.B. Bardhan on Jan. 21 expressed dissatisfaction over the security arrangements particularly in the 11 Assembly constituencies in the hills.



In a scathing attack on the militants, the veteran CPI leader said what had been happening in the hill districts was anything but democracy.



“If the armed groups in Manipur want genuine development in the state, they should allow people to exercise their franchise without any fear.”



In a veiled reference to the ongoing campaigns for integration of Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative unit, the CPI leader said any move to take away Manipur’s hills to appease the NSCN (I-M) would be opposed tooth and nail.



The CPI leader demanded talks between the Centre and all militant groups in Manipur similar to the ones in Nagaland and Assam. “The Centre should declare a ceasefire against all militant groups in the state.”



The CPI is fielding candidates in 24 constituencies including two in the four Naga-dominated districts.





Digital eye for Manipur polls



Meanwhile, the state election office has taken a slew of measures, including installation of digital cameras at polling booths, to pre-empt any attempt at rigging or booth capturing during the three-phase Assembly elections from February 8.



Chief electoral officer R.R. Rashmi said the biggest challenge in the state was not militancy but to ensure a fair turnout of voters, most of whom are intimidated by hoodlums.



According to Rashmi, the latest electronic voting machines will be used at all the 2,053 polling stations across 60 constituencies. The machines will record the time of the votes cast, which will help officials check if ballots were cast before or after polling hours, he said.



To record the day’s entire proceedings, the Election Commission has also agreed to allow video recording inside the booths.



“A security person positioned at the entrance of the booths will keep tabs on the proceedings inside the booth. He will submit a confidential report in case of any irregularities, which will help us take decisions on repoll,” the officer said. “The arrangement will prevent formation of nexus between the presiding officer and candidates.”