HUSH AT THE HUSTINGS

With the ethnic conflict in Manipur now closing in on a year, the state is witnessing a subdued election season

- JAVED PARVESH

“WE DO NOT feel like voting. No candidate has come to see us. But as a citizen of the country, I do not want to disregard my right,” said K. Surjit Singh from Motbung, a Meitei village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur. His village has been erased in the nearly year-long MeiteiKuki ethnic strife, and he now stays in Imphal’s biggest relief camp in Lamboikhongnangkhong. The same sentiment is echoed by Jaminlal Haokip, a Kuki from Imphal’s Langol area, who is now in a relief camp in Churachandpur.

These two are part of a large section of Manipuris—those affected by the violence—who seem to have no interest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, to be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. Take, for instance, Leichombam, a journalist with 23 years of experience. After a busy day of reporting for his news website, he motorcycles to Khumbong in Imphal West at night to protect his village. Every day, he spends time in a bunker till 1am, and once a week, he dedicates an entire night to guarding his village. “People from all walks of life are volunteering to guard their villages, including doctors and teachers,” he said.

The election season is subdued, with few banners or party flags in Imphal. Instead, the city is filled with Election Commission billboards urging people to vote. The seven-colour Salai Taret flags of the Meitei community are now widespread throughout the valley; this was rare before the ethnic strife. The flags represent belief and solidarity, and are sometimes a marker of a Meitei house or shop. The EC and political parties are concerned about low voter turnout because of the violence, which has flared up again after a month of calm.