Special Polling Stations Set Up for Displaced Voters in Manipur Amid Ethnic Violence

Imphal: To ensure electoral participation among those affected by ethnic violence, over 24,500 eligible voters residing in relief camps in Manipur will cast their votes at special polling stations during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, officials confirmed on Sunday.

Amidst the backdrop of ethnic clashes that have plagued the region, election authorities have arranged for 94 special polling stations across 10 districts of Manipur. These polling stations aim to facilitate voting for displaced voters across the state’s two Lok Sabha constituencies.

The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat will witness 29 special polling stations, while 65 such stations will be set up for the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency. The highest number of polling stations, 24 in total, will be established in Kangpokpi district, followed by 22 in Bishnupur district and 15 in Churachandpur district, with the remaining 13 spread across seven other districts.

The Manipur government currently operates approximately 320 relief camps, providing shelter to over 59,000 individuals, including men, women, and children. Following the eruption of ethnic violence on May 3 last year, over 70,000 people from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities were displaced, seeking refuge in safer locations within Manipur and neighboring Mizoram.

The electoral process in Manipur is scheduled to unfold in two phases, with the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat going to polls on April 19, followed by voting in the Outer Manipur constituency in two phases on April 19 and April 26, respectively.