Repolling concluded in six booths of the Outer Manipur constituency on April 30, completing voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the strife-torn State where elections were conducted in two phases. Repoll was ordered for 17 polling stations across its two constituencies.
Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, Pradeep Kumar Jha, told The Hindu that repolling was peaceful with the six stations recording a voter turnout of 81.16%. These polling stations spread across three assembly segments of Ukhrul, Chingai and Karong had reported disturbance on April 26 after which the Election Commission of India had ordered repoll.
Videos and photos of some of the polling stations had gone viral on social media, showing vandalised booths and VVPAT slips strewn across the floor.
“By and large, it was a peaceful election in Manipur. Compared to the previous Lok Sabha election, during which a total of 31 polling stations had repolled, this was relatively better,” Mr. Jha said, adding that the ongoing conflict posed logistical challenges that were overcome.
In the first phase of voting, instances of booth capturing, voter intimidation and firing were reported as a result of which repolling was ordered in 11 polling stations of the Inner Manipur constituency.
The Lok Sabha election was conducted in Manipur in the shadow of the ethnic conflict that has been underway in the State since May 3 last year between the valley-based Meitei people and the hills-based Scheduled Tribe Kuki-Zo. More than 220 people have been killed since the conflict broke out, thousands of others have been injured and tens of thousands have been internally displaced.
