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2024 Indian general election in Manipur

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2024 Indian general election in Manipur
← 2019 April – May 2024 2029 →
All 2 Manipur seats in the Lok Sabha
Opinion polls
Turnout80.47% (Decrease2.22%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Okram Ibobi Singh Official.jpg
N._Biren_Singh.jpg
Leader Okram Ibobi Singh N. Biren Singh
Party INC NPF BJP
Alliance INDIA NDA NDA
Leader since 2007 2017
Leader's seat Not Contesting Not Contesting Not Contesting
Last election 24.71%, 0 seat 22.55%, 1 seat 34.33%, 1 seat
Seats won 2 0 0
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 1 Decrease 1
Percentage 47.59% 18.87% 16.58%
Swing Increase 22.88pp Decrease 3.68 pp Decrease 17.75pp
Manipur Lok Sabha Results

The 2024 Indian general election was held in Manipur on 19 April and 26 April to elect two members of the 18th Lok Sabha, from the constituencies of Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur.[1] The election got scheduled in the midst of year-long ethnic violence between the valley-based Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki-Zo community. There were reports of violence and intimidation by armed militias during the campaigning as well as polling but, on the whole, the election got conducted peacefully. Opposition Indian National Congress candidates, Bimol Akoijam and Alfred Kanngam Arthur, won the two seats respectively.

Background

The 2024 Indian general election got scheduled in the midst of a year-long ethnic violence in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which has seen more than 200 people killed and around 60,000 people displaced.[2] The violence resulted in complete geographic separation of the two communities within a month of the onset of violence, with the Meiteis having fled the hill districts and the Kuki-Zo having fled the Imphal Valley. The violence nevertheless continued with arm-toting militias launching attacks on the opposite community and 'village defence volunteers' defending their villages. Over 6,000 guns that had been looted from the state's armouries remain with the militants and other civilian activists.[3]

The Inner Manipur constituency, which covers the Imphal Valley, has fielded six candidates, including one from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one from the opposition Indian National Congress (INC, Congress).[2]

The Outer Manipur constituency, which covers the surrounding hill districts and reserved for the state's Scheduled Tribe (Kuki-Zo and Naga) communities, only Naga candidates have contested. The Kuki-Zo community decided not to field any candidates.[4] The BJP decided to support its NDA ally Naga People's Front, while the INC fielded a candidate from the Naga community.[4]

Election Schedule

Poll event Phase
I II
Notification Date 20 March 28 March
Last Date for filing nomination 27 March 4 April
Scrutiny of nomination 28 March 5 April
Last Date for withdrawal of nomination 30 March 8 April
Date of poll 19 April 26 April
Date of counting of votes/Result 4 June 2024
No. of constituencies 1+1⁄2[a] 1⁄2[a]

Parties and alliances

  National Democratic Alliance

Party Flag Symbol Leader Contesting Seats
Bharatiya Janata Party Sailesh Nigthoujam 1
Naga People's Front Lorho S. Pfoze 1[5]
Total 2

  Indian National Developmental Inclusive
      Alliance

Party Flag Symbol Leader Contesting Seats
Indian National Congress 2

Others

Party Symbol Contesting Seats
Republican Party of India (Athawale) 1

Candidates

Constituency
NDA INDIA
1 Inner Manipur BJP Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh INC Angomcha Bimol Akoijam
2 Outer Manipur NPF Kachui Timothy Zimik INC Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur

Surveys and polls

Opinion Polls

Polling agency Date published Margin of Error Lead
NDA INDIA Others
ABP News-CVoter March 2024[6] ±5% 2 0 0 NDA
Times Now-ETG December 2023 ±3% 1-2 0-1 0 NDA
India TV-CNX October 2023 ±3% 1 1 0 Tie
Times Now-ETG September 2023 ±3% 1-2 0-1 0 NDA
August 2023 ±3% 1-2 0-1 0 NDA
Polling agency Date published Margin of Error Lead
NDA INDIA Others
ABP News-CVoter March 2024[7] ±5% 50% 34% 16% 16

Exit Polls

Polling agency Lead
NDA INDIA Others

Campaigning, threats and boycott calls

The leading Meitei militia group, Arambai Tenggol with 60,000 cadres, announced "restrictions" on campaigning on 30 March 2024. It discouraged election campaigns, feasts, the use of loudspeakers, flag raising and election meetings, claiming that such events are more divisive than unifying, and would potentially lead to conflicts and violence. Manipur's state government as well as the central government stayed silent in the face of such impositions.[8][9]

On 19 March, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Congress Party's Outer Manipur candidate, Alfred Kanngam Arthur, while he was participating in a village-level consultative meeting in the Ukhrul district. The candidate was unhurt.[10] On 28 March, the Congress Party's Inner Manipur candidate Bimol Akoijam was threatened by unidentified miscreants at his home. They gave an ultimatum to his family to send him for a meeting the following day.[11][12] The Congress Party expressed deep concern and requested the police to provide protection to the candidate.[11] On 14 April, miscreants opened fire at a campaign site in Moirang where Akoijam was expected to organise a campaign meeting the following day. Perceiving the threat, Akoijam cancelled the meeting.[13] Two days later, armed miscreants again disrupted an election meeting at Kumbi. Akoijam confided to the press the extent of threats he was receiving and commented that these were from "my own community" [Meiteis].[14]

A week before the first phase of polling, armed militants, alleged to belong to Arambai Tenggol, attacked a border region of Kangpokpi district in the Thoubal river valley, called Phailengmol Island Block, and killed two Kuki-Zo village defence volunteers. Graphic videos of their corpses being dragged, mutilated and body parts displayed were circulated.[15][16][17]

The gruesome attacks and display caused the Kuki-Zo civil society organisations to come out with calls for boycotting the general election, saying "no justice, no vote". The Global Kuki-Zomi-Hmar Women Community, including journalists social workers, politicians and leaders, had earlier written to the Chief Election Commissioner, informing him of its decision to boycott the polls. Following the Phailengmol attack, the Kuki National Assembly and Kuki Inpi have also joined the fray.[18][19] On 16 April, the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (covering the Kangpokpi district) asked all Kuki residents of the district to abstain from voting.[20] Kuki Inpi Churachandpur issued a directive asking its residents to vote against the ruling BJP and its allied partners, which included the Naga People's Front.[21]

The Naga civil society organisation United Naga Council asked the Naga community to support the consensus candidate chosen by the Naga People's Front. It asked for "unity" in the Naga community.[22]

Polling

The poll for the two Lok Sabha seats of Manipur was scheduled to be held on two days. During the Phase 1 polling on 19 April, it was held for Inner Manipur and three districts (Kangpokpi, Chandel and Churachandpur) of Outer Manipur. During the Phase 2 polling on 26 April, it was held in the remaining districts.

During the Phase 1 polling, several chaotic scenes were witnessed in many parts of the Imphal Valley.[23][24] At Moirang Kampu (in Imphal East), a group of unidentified miscreants arrived in an SUV, had an argument in the polling booth and then fired a few rounds at the people from their vehicle. A 72-year old man was hit by a bullet. The enraged voters then destroyed the polling devices.[23][24] Assault and firing was also reported from at least three other locations (Arapati Maning in Imphal East, Wangoo in Kakching and Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur).[23][24] Several other polling stations in the Valley districts were captured by armed miscreants, with video clips flooding the social media. Many fingers were pointed at Arambai Tenggol militants. In one clip, the Congress candidate Bimol Akoijam is seen complaining to senior police officials about his polling agent having been threatened by armed miscreants and the agent having had to leave the polling station.[24] The state unit of the Congress party filed a complaint with the chief election officer for the state alleging booth capturing, voter intimidation and other irregularities at 36 polling booths in Inner Manipur and 11 polling booths in the Sugnu area of Outer Manipur.[24] The Election Commission ordered a re-poll at 11 polling booths, which was held on 22 April with over 81% voter turnout.[25][26]

In the Outer Manipur constituency, the Kuki-Zo people in the Kangpokpi district were reported to have abstained from voting as per the instructions of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills. News reports mentioned empty polling stations with "complete zero turnout".[27][28][29] The election commission reported 22% voter turnout, which is mainly attributed to the Nepali and Naga voters in the district.[29] In Churachandpur district, early news reports mentioned poor turnout,[30] but the election commission data at the end of polling showed 64% turnout in the Churachandpur assembly constituency and 72% in the Saikot assembly constituency, with similar figures in other constituencies.[31] The polling agent of Naga People's Front alleged large-scale booth capturing by armed militants in these constituencies, requesting a re-poll from the election commission. "All our voters and workers were threatened with arms and chased away by the militants", wrote the polling agent.[32][33]

During Phase 2 polling, there were reports that armed militias were forcing voters to vote only for the Naga People's Front (NDA) candidate, Timothy Zimik. In an Ukhrul district polling booth, the irate voters destroyed the electronic voting machine.[34] The cadres of NSCN-IM were blamed.[35] The Election Commission claimed that the polling was peaceful and 76% votes were polled. However, the Congress-led INDIA alliance said there were reports of booth capturing at 17 polling stations.[35] Repolling was ordered at six polling stations.[36]

Results

Results by alliance or party

Alliance/ Party Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Contested Won +/−
INDIA INC 7,52,491 47.59 Increase 22.88 2 2 Increase 2
NDA
NPF 299,536 18.87 Decrease 3.68 1 0 Decrease 1
BJP 2,62,217 16.58 Decrease 17.75 1 0 Decrease 1
Total 5,60,575 35.45 Decrease 21.43 2 0 Decrease 2
RPI(A) 135,640 8.58% new 1 0 Steady
IND 122,212 7.73% Decrease 2.41 5 0 Steady
NOTA 10,237 0.65% Increase 0.34
Total 1,581,155 100% - 10 2 -

Results by constituency

Constituency Turnout Winner Runner Up Margin
Party Alliance Candidate Votes % Party Alliance Candidate Votes %
1 Inner Manipur 80.37%Decrease INC INDIA Angomcha Bimol Akoijam 3,74,017 46.93 BJP NDA Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh 2,64,216 33.16 1,09,801
2 Outer Manipur 76.84%Decrease INC INDIA Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur 3,84,954 48.32 NPF NDA Kachui Timothy Zimik 2,99,536 37.6 85,418

Aftermath

Indian National Congress won both the seats in the election. The Inner Manipur seat was won by Bimol Akoijam with a margin of over 100,000 votes from his nearest rival Thounaojam Basant Kumar Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Outer Manipur seat was won by Alfred Kanngam Arthur with a margin of 85,000 over his nearest rival K. Timothy Zimik of Naga People's Front.[37]

The results were interpreted as representing popular dissatisfaction with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in managing the ethnic violence that has plagued the state for over a year and the apparent apathy from the central leadership. In the Imphal Valley region, it was said that people were pointing fingers at the ruling party for the first time, and blaming it for letting militias like Arambai Tenggol function with impunity.[38][39]

The United Naga Council, which had urged the Naga community to support the Naga People's Front candidate, ostracised the three Naga candidates that stood against him, including the winning candidate Alfred Kanngam Arthur. It announced a seven-year social boycott against them, claiming that they "purposively defied" the organisation and worked against the spirit of unity.[40]

Assembly segments wise lead of Parties

2024 Manipur Lok Sabha Elections Assembly Wise Lead Map
Party Assembly segments Current Position in the Assembly
INDIA INC 36 5
Total 36 5
NDA NPF 13 2
BJP 9 37
NPP Did Not Contest 7
JD(U) 1
Total 22 50
Others KPA Did Not Contest 2
Independents 2 3
Total 2 5
Total 60

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Polling in Outer Manipur constituency in Manipur was scheduled in two phases.

References

  1. ^ "Manipur Lok Sabha polls 2024: Total seats, schedule, candidates list, date of voting, result, main parties". The Times of India. 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Suwa Lal Jangu, Manipur’s divided election, Frontline, 15 April 2024.
  3. ^ Abhinay Lakshman, Ethnic conflict casts a shadow on Manipur polls; Kuki-Zo, Meitei people devise voting strategies, The Hindu, 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Abhinay Lakshman, Outer Manipur: for Kuki-Zo outreach, parties hold-off campaigning, start talks with apex tribe bodies, The Hindu, 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ Karmakar, Rahul (22 March 2024). "BJP to back regional partners in three northeastern States". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ^ ABP News Bureau (13 March 2024). "ABP-CVoter Opinion Poll: BJP Set To Reign Supreme In Northeast, I.N.D.I.A Faces Washout". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  7. ^ ABP News Bureau (13 March 2024). "ABP-CVoter Opinion Poll: BJP Set To Reign Supreme In Northeast, I.N.D.I.A Faces Washout". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  8. ^ Manipur: Arambai Tenggol imposes restrictions on LS election campaigns, here are the do's and don't, India Today NE, 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ Manipur: BJP Govt Silent as Arambai Tenggol Imposes Campaigning Restrictions, The Wire, 31 March 2024.
  10. ^ Gunmen attack Congress candidate in Manipur; escapes unhurt, Assam Tribune, 19 March 2024.
  11. ^ a b Manipur: Unidentified miscreants threaten Congress candidate Bimol Akoijam, party demands security measures, India Today NE, 30 March 2024.
  12. ^ After "Threats", Congress Seeks Security For Inner Manipur Candidate Bimol Akoijam, NDTV News, 31 March 2024.
  13. ^ Inner Manipur candidate Bimol Akoijam cancels campaign after attacks, Imphal Free Press, 14 April 2024.
  14. ^ Manipur: Congress candidate Bimol Akoijam threatened by armed miscreants, second time in a month, India Today NE, 18 April 2024.
  15. ^ Two Kuki-Zo ‘village volunteers’ gunned down in Manipur, their bodies mutilated, Scroll.in, 14 April 2024.
  16. ^ Kaybie Chongloi, Manipur: Armed miscreants kill two Kuki-Zo volunteers in Kangpokpi district ahead of Lok Sabha polls, India Today NE, 13 April 2024.
  17. ^ Greeshma Kuthar, Saviour Complex: Why the Biren Singh government gives a free hand to Arambai Tenggol, The Caravan, 15 April 2024.
  18. ^ More Kuki bodies announce poll boycott in Manipur following fresh incidents of violence, The Economic Times, 15 April 2024.
  19. ^ Debanish Achom, "If Suffering Is Deemed Our Right...": More Kuki-Zo Groups Call For Election Boycott In Manipur, NDTV News, 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ Manipur: Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills directs members to abstain from participating in Lok Sabha election, The Economic Times, 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ Sumir Karmakar, Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Manipur voters who took refuge outside state may miss ballot amid anti-BJP stand, poll boycott by Kukis, Deccan Herald, 18 April 2024.
  22. ^ United Naga Council Calls for Unity in Supporting Naga MP Candidate, Ukhrul Times, 18 March 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Debanish Achom, Ratnadip Choudhury, Gunfire, EVMs Destroyed, Anger In Crisis-Hit Manipur Amid Chaotic Voting, NDTV News, 19 April 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e Amid Gun Shots, Booth Capturing and Violence, Restive Manipur Votes in First Phase, The Wire, 20 April 2024.
  25. ^ Election Commission orders re-polling in 11 Manipur booths on April 22, The Hindu, 20 April 2024.
  26. ^ Repolling peaceful in Manipur; records 81.64% voter turnout, The Hindu, 22 April 2024.
  27. ^ Kaybie Chongloi, Manipur: Kuki-Zo community abstains from voting in Kangpokpi district, leading to empty polling Stations, India Today NE, 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ Kangpokpi's “Empty Polling Stations” Speaks Volumes as the Kuki Community Abstain during First Phase of Polls, The Hills Journal, 19 April 2024.
  29. ^ a b Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Manipur's Churachandpur votes but not Kangpokpi, Imphal Free Press, 19 April 2024.
  30. ^ Bikash Singh, Lok Sabha election phase 1: No voters turn out in six districts of Nagaland, The Economic Times, 19 April 2024.
  31. ^ Ccpur LS Election 2024: Percentage pegged at 72; Poll Officials, EVMs start arriving, The Hills Journal, 19 April 2024.
  32. ^ Manipur: Re-elections to take place in 11 booths after reports of violence, EVM destruction, Scroll.in, 20 April 2024.
  33. ^ NPF agent demands re-poll in CCpur, Saikot ACs, Chronicle News Service, via e-pao.net, 20 April 2024.
  34. ^ Bikash Singh, Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EVM destroyed in Manipur, voters coerced to vote for NPF, The Economic Times, 27 April 2024.
  35. ^ a b Election Commission claims peaceful turnout in Manipur and Assam, INDIA bloc cries 'democracy under threat', The Telegraph (Kolkata), 27 April 2024.
  36. ^ PTI, Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Repolling In Six Polling Stations In Outer Manipur On April 30, News18, 28 April 2024.
  37. ^ Manipur Election Results 2024 highlights: Congress wins both Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, The Hindu, 5 June 2024.
  38. ^ Greeshma Kuthar, Peace eludes India’s Manipur even after defeating BJP over ethnic violence, Al Jazeera, 12 June 2024.
  39. ^ Sushanta Talukdar, BJP retains upper hand in Assam but Congress finds its feet in the North-East once again, Frontline, 12 June 2024.
  40. ^ Rahul Karmakar, Manipur Naga body prescribes social boycott of Congress MP-elect, 2 others, The Hindu, 14 June 2024.
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