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North East : Manipur elections : Campaigning in full swing

	February 05, 2007

The tiny state of Manipur is all set to have the first phase of polling on Feb. 8. Considered as hot-spot in the north-east politics, campaigning in the state is in full swing. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is the major poll plank of all parties.



Nineteen constituencies will go to the polls in Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal districts.



All 77 candidates for the 19 constituencies have highlighted their opposition to the Act and demanded its withdrawal from the entire state. However, the Congress, a dominant member of the ruling Secular Peoples Front, has not made its stand clear on the issue.



“The Congress will form the government again, so it cannot take an uncompromising position at this stage. But we respect the sentiments of the people and our views will be reflected in our manifesto,” a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.

But other major parties, including the CPI, the Manipur Peoples Party and the BJP, have categorically called for repeal of the Act in their poll manifestos. Describing the Act as “inhuman”, the CPI manifesto says, “At present we are working to repeal this Act as per the recommendations of the Jeevan Reddy Commission”.



The regional MPP is more forthright in its condemnation of the Act. “This infamous Act has tarnished the image of Indian democracy.... MPP will approach all pillars of Indian democracy to repeal this Act,” it said. The issue is placed second in the BJP’s 28-point poll manifesto.



This is the first time that a central Act has emerged as a major campaign issue in any Assembly election of the country. “This is only because of the immense suffering the enforcement of this Act has caused to the people of Manipur,” explained Y. Debdutta, human rights Activist and convener of Apunba Lup.



Chief electoral officer R.R. Rashmi said the Army’s help will be sought if needed, in order to ensure a free and fair election.





Ibobi gets poll clean chit



Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who was accused of bribing voters, is heaving a sigh of relief with the Thoubal district election officer giving a clean chit to him.



State chief electoral officer R.R. Rashmi told newspersons that the district election officer’s findings were forwarded to the Election Commission for further instructions on the matter.

Opposition BJP and Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) had lodged complaints with the Election Commission demanding Action against Ibobi Singh after a photograph, showing the Chief Minister handing over hundred rupee notes to an old man during his election tour to Thoubal, was published by a local daily last week.



Rashmi said the district election officer conducted a spot inquiry and talked to the man shown in the photograph. The findings were similar to Ibobi Singh’s claim that the money was given to the man for offering to God.





Probe ordered into rebel diktat



State chief electoral officer R.R. Rashmi has instructed all the deputy commissioners of the four Naga-dominated hill districts to hold an inquiry into reports that the United Naga Council (UNC) is not allowing candidates to campaign.



Rashmi said no political party or candidate has lodged any complaint in this regard so far. The inquiry was ordered on the basis of newspaper reports that the UNC, which is the apex body of the Nagas of Manipur, was preventing candidates other than the ones fielded by it from holding election rallies.



The UNC has named six candidates in Ukhrul and Senapati districts as “consensus candidates” of the Nagas. The two districts will go to the polls in the first phase on February 8 along with Thoubal district.



According to sources, the UNC has asked candidates other than those supported by it to withdraw from the race and warned them of dire consequences if they fail to withdraw. It had prevented sitting Congress MLA A. Aza from electioneering in Chingai constituency a few days back, they added. More such reports have been trickling in and the UNC has not denied them.



Rashmi said arrangements have been made to allow displaced persons of Khengjoy in Chandel district to cast their votes at the two polling stations in Khengjoy block. Hundreds of villagers had fled their homes after the Army launched an offensive against militants holed up at Khengjoy range last month.