From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI: The Election Commission has made changes in the modalities of The Manipur Assembly Elections 2022. Manipur will now go to the polls for the first phase on February 28. The first phase of polling was scheduled to be held on February 27. In Manipur, the date for the second phase of polling has been changed from March 3 to March 5. The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) had urged the poll panel to reschedule the first phase of assembly elections on February 27 as it falls as it turns out to be the community’s prayer day. All parties including the ruling BJP, main opposition Congress and National People’s Party have also supported the AMCOs demand.
In a statement, Election Commission Secretary Sanjeev Kumar Prasad said that the Commission, taking into consideration the inputs, representations, past precedents, logistics, ground conditions and all the facts and circumstances in the matter, has decided to revise the voting dates for the general elections to the Manipur Assembly under Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.The AMCO had earlier said in a representation to the Election Commission that “Sunday is a holy day, a day set aside for worship and reverence of God.” But fixing the date of polling has left the Christian community in Manipur questioning whether the government is deliberately trying to reduce its religious significance”. In addition, “AMCO is apprehensive that a large number of voters may refrain from exercising their franchise. The day of voting falls on Sunday, so the right to universal franchise of the people is deliberately taken away”.
Among manipur’s 30 lakh people, Christian religious figures in 41.29 per cent, while 41.39 per cent are From Hindu and 8.4 per cent are from Muslim community. The majority mark in Manipur is 31. The BJP formed the government with the support of NPP, LJP and independent MLAs and N Birender Singh became the CM here. Once again, congress and BJP are the main rivals in Manipur. The term of the assembly of manipur, the 60-seat state, ends on March 19, 2022.
