IMPHAL: Barely eleven days to go, campaigning for the coming January 28 Manipur assembly polls is at a very low ebb with candidates confining to hoisting flags at their houses and those of their supporters.
Reports from all districts said, apart from hoisting flags at their houses, candidates were doing house-to-house campaigns to woo voters in their favours.s
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which was a major issue in previous election is no longer a major one this time although the political parties raised this issue during the campaigning, reports said.
Reports said candidates while campaigning were concentrating the erratic power supply, shortage of drinking water, insurgency problem, previous government’s failure to make the national highways free from any trouble.
There has not been any major public meetings of any party to woo voters in any part of the state, reports said adding that it may be because of restrictions imposed by various insurgent outfits on political parties.
Political observers said no political parties or their supporters have been campaigning in favour of their candidates by using public loud speaker system nor have they put up any posters at any public place in favour of their candidates.
‘It is silent all over unlike in the past,’ reports said adding that the polls this time was totally different from the past.
Political observers said every voter should have the opportunity to choose the representative of their choice and too much restrictions both by insurgents and authorities was ‘not advisable’.
Seven major insurgent organisations have banned the campaigning of Congress and its workers saying that they were against the ‘revolutionary movement’ of Manipur.
The insurgents have exploded and hurled grenades and bombs at several places across the Manipur valley in the past two weeks, during which some were injured and houses destroyed.
Press statements issued by them said they would not spare the persons who disobeyed their ‘diktat’ before and after the elections.
Official sources said some militant had also attacked non-Congress candidates by hurling grenades, saying that no former militant should fight the elections held under the provisions of Indian Constitution.
Election office sources said candidates had been instructed not to go out in the night to campaign for the elections, although whoever have filed nomination papers have been provided adequate security personnel.
Sources said out of 350 companies of forces, including 280 para military forces, more than 218 companies have arrived here, adding that the personnel were now engaged in foot patrolling and other activities to acclimatise the situation.
Reports from the districts said no community feast was held to woo voters this time unlike in previous elections because of restrictions from the election commission.
In the previous assembly elections, candidates had organised community feast at every place to woo voters.
Election office said observers, including police officers had come and were closely monitoring the activities of the candidates and supporters with regard to their expenditures, and other things.
The Manipur unit of BJP has alleged that though the Kuki militants have been under Suspension Of Operation (SoO) pact with the Government, the rebels were disturbing poll processes in the state.
BJP media affairs secretary L Bashanta Sharma said Kuki militants are freely roaming in 59-Saikot Assembly constituency of Churachandpur district, disturbing the citizens and causing alarm.
According to election officials, the polling stations would be divided into hyper-sensitive, sensitive and normal zones.
Of the total 2,357 polling stations, 875 has been categorised as hyper-sensitive, 1,325 as sensitive and 160 polling stations as normal.
In all two sections of paramilitary forces will be deployed in each polling stations categorized as hyper-sensitive and one section each will be deployed in those polling stations identified as sensitive and normal.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened throughout the state following the series of attacks over the past few days launched by the Coordinating Committee of seven militant outfits, while Thoubal district to where Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh belongs will be guarded by about 55 companies. (PTI)