MPDF bemoans electoral malpractices
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2024: Repolling due to rampant election malpractices is not the sign of a healthy society and it indicates lack of good governance and awareness among voters, said Manipur Peoples' Democratic Front, a common platform for politicians of political parties and civil society organisations.

In a statement, its secretary Sapam Samungou Singh issued to the media today, MPDF said the Lok Sabha elections, held on April 19 and April 26, were marred with incidents of violence and corrupt practices at many polling stations, and it degraded the value of democracy.

The election for the Inner Manipur Parliament seat was held across 47 Assembly Segments on April 19, and it saw many incidents of booth capturing, proxy voting, intimidation of voters and polling agents, and people destroying Electronic Voting Machines.

Due to these corrupt practices, repolling was held in 11 polling stations of 5 Assembly segments on April 22, MPDF said.

While the election for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat was not free and fair, the election for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat across 13 Assembly Segments on April 26 was no different.

Many election malpractices were reported and as such, repolling has been scheduled for 6 polling stations on April 30, it added.

A free and fair election is a must for good governance, which will in turn bring about good administration, MPDF said, asserting the problems Manipur is facing today are because of lack of good governance.

MPDF said the Kuki militants' aggression against the Meiteis which began 12 months ago on May 3, 2023 was born out of lack of good governance.

"If there was good governance in the Centre and the State, the conflict may not have happened and people's homes would not have been burnt.

Kuki militants couldn't have forced thousands of Meiteis from Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh and levelled their houses to the ground," said MPDF.

Manipur at present is facing many issues.

People's fundamental rights have been violated, blockades have been imposed on National Highways, and many terror activities have taken place, it said, adding the people, the State Government and the Centre should understand that the Kuki militants' aggression is a challenge to the unity, integrity and security of India.

Meanwhile, amid the crisis in the State, people have raised many slogans like Yaiphare, Inquilab Zindabad, Bharat Mataki Jai, Manipur Imana Yaiphare.

However, if the voters are not aware of their fundamental rights and duties, and corrupt election practices persist, no amount of slogans will be able to save the State, said MPDF.

Hinting that the problems people are facing today may be resolved if elections are held freely and fairly, MPDF said people must understand their fundamental rights and the meaning of the slogans, and they must be able to exercise their rights and choose their own representatives.

Free and fair elections will never take place if voters are not well informed and aware of their rights.

People must understand the meaning of elections in a democracy.

If not, Manipur will one day sink and there will be no one to save her, MPDF said.

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