As the nation goes to vote for the first phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections, 2024 on Friday including Manipur where many constituencies in II-Outer Manipur ParliamentaryConstituency will vote too, many in Churachandpur district are filled with confusion.
People in the district are confused as to which candidate they will vote for as no candidate from the Zomi-Kuki-Hmar-Mizo is in fray. Moreover, many are also apprehensive about the four candidates who are from the Naga community.
Many tribes, about nine in all, have made it known of their intentions to support the Congress candidate but there are many undecided voters too who are not even aware that the election will take place on Friday. Some voters are apprehensive of all the candidates especially in times of the current crisis with some parties backed by the BJP and are not bothered by their problems.
One reason for the absence of awareness may be due to the fact that there was no visible effort on the part of the district administration, unlike previous elections, and that many political parties did not set up offices, display posters or banners, which are usually witnessed when general elections were held in the past.
Known by people of Churachandpur as ‘Festival of Democracy’, the sombre mood is echoed by many daily wage earners as not being aware of the election to be held on Friday.