Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur, the Election Commission of India has taken proactive measures to facilitate the electoral participation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by establishing eight Special Polling Stations (SPSs) in Imphal West district.
Manipur, with its two Lok Sabha constituencies, is scheduled to conduct polls in two phases on April 19 and 26, marking a crucial moment in the state's democratic process.
According to the notification issued by Th Kirankumar, the District Election Officer of Imphal West, three special polling stations have been designated for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, while five are allocated for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
These SPSs are strategically located within various assembly constituencies in Imphal West district.
To ensure the smooth execution of this initiative, IDPs are encouraged to submit their duly filled ID Forms by April 9 at the offices of the respective Assistant Returning Officers in Imphal West district.
The move comes amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state, with approximately 61,000 individuals seeking refuge at various locations across Manipur.
Earlier announcements from ECI officials had revealed plans to establish a total of 94 special polling booths for IDPs, particularly focusing on Kangpokpi district, followed by Bishnupur and Churachandpur.
Additional districts including Imphal East, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, Thoubal, and Jiribam will also have designated special polling stations to facilitate IDP participation in the electoral process.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer N Ramananda emphasised the importance of IDPs submitting their ID forms to designated election officials to ensure their inclusion in the democratic exercise.
Meanwhile, on March 29, the Global Kuki-Zomi-Hmar Women Community of Manipur made headlines by announcing their decision to abstain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a letter addressed to Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the group cited the need for meaningful dialogue to address grievances and advocate for fair and equitable solutions.
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