THE 18TH LOK SABHA ELECTION: A PREVIEW

In the Inner Manipur constituency, the choice is between the outspoken and ethnocentric Dr. A.Bimol Akoijam and the calm-and-composed Mr. Th. Basanta Kumar, but in the Outer, it is a Naga

The election campaign for the first phase ended with a high voltage Television debate between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress yesterday. The campaign was also marked by the visit of the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for an election campaign on Monday.

However, when the Home Minister came to Manipur, he didn't utter a single word about the incident involving one of the most barbaric acts committed by the Meitei terrorists who not only brutally murdered two innocent Kuki village volunteers but also recorded videos where their bodies were dragged, severely mutilated, and dump in an undisclosed location.

It is under such circumstances that the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo-dominated districts will go for the first phase of polling tomorrow. For the Kukis, it is the hardest time in their long history as their existence has been under serious threat in the hands of the most communal government headed by Mr. N. Biren Singh in the last 11 months. Therefore, supporting the Naga candidates instead of contesting against them as they usually did in the past, or abstaining from voting, are the only two options. Either way, a Naga candidate will become the MP from the Outer Manipur constituency.

For the valley dwellers who are part of the eight Assembly Constituencies within Outer Manipur, it will be tough to choose among the NPF, an ally of the BJP, whose ultimate objective is to support the Nagas' demand for Greater Nagalim; an Independent candidate who was a former President of the United Naga Council, and the Congress who promised to resolve the current ethnic turmoil administratively.

Again, for the voters within the Inner Manipur constituency, it will be mainly a choice between Thounaojam Basanta Mumar Singh of the BJP, the ruling party led by Mr. N. Biren Singh, the man who orchestrated the current state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority Kukis, and Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Congress, who is no less communal although his party believes in secularism and pluralism. The rest of the candidates don't even matter for serious analysis.

As of now, though the winner will be known only after all the votes are counted on 4 June 2024, social media buzz predicted the Congress to be the preferred choice in the I-Inner Manipur constituency.

However, many people are seriously skeptical about the role of the state-funded Meitei militias such as Arambai Tenggols and Meitei Leepuns. In a viral video, Mr. Korounganba Khuman, the self-styled commander of Arambai Tenggol, confidently claimed that the BJP would easily sweep the poll. This was followed by several reports of their cadres instructing local clubs and Meira Paibis to vote for the BJP.

In a similar development, Mr. Pramot Singh, the self-styled chief of Meitei Leepun, regularly updates cryptic messages, some in support of the BJP candidate, and others directed against the Congress. In an interview for a national television last May, Pramot Singh claimed to have worshiped Mr. Biren Singh as a Godfather.

It may be noted that the Congress candidate Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam has been threatened by the Meitei militia groups and armed miscreants multiple times. One of his recent election campaign meetings was also disrupted with gunshots by armed miscreants.

All these developments shows that though Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam seems to be the preferred choice for many, particularly for social media users, it is also very likely that Mr. Biren Singh and his private militias such as Arambai Tenggols and Meitei Leepuns will do everything possible to garner enough votes for the BJP candidate to win.

Therefore, as in the Outer Manipur where Naga groups are openly coming out in support of the NPF candidate, the BJP could also sweep the poll in the Inner Manipur with an 'iron fist' by applying the 'carrot and stick' approach.

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue no. 213, 18th April 2024).