POSTERS of political parties, mega rallies and visible movement of leaders -- the traditional elements of campaigning -- are conspicuously missing in violence-hit Manipur where polling for Lok Sabha elections is due in less than two weeks. The only visible hint of the impending election is the hoardingsputupby local electionauthorities,urgingcitizens to exercise their franchise. Amidthemutedelectionfervour, major party figures have refrainedfromvisitingtheconflict-riddenstatetocanvassfor votesormakeelectoralpledges. While the BJP has enlisted prominent figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as star campaigners, the CongresslineupincludesSonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other key leaders.

 

However, noneofthemhave any appearance in Manipur yet. Though the Election CommissionofManipurmaintained that there are no official restrictions on campaigning activities, party representatives emphasised the need for subdued campaigning to avoid aggravating the delicate situation in the state. “There are no restrictions from the Election Commission’s side on campaigning. Anything which is within the boundaries of the model code of conduct is allowed,” Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, Pradeep Jha told PTI. Totacklethetrickysituation, the candidates -- BJP’s Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, Congress’ Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Republican Party of India’s Maheshwar Thounaojam and Rajmukar Some ndro Singhwhoisbacked by the Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) -- have come up with a unique solution.

 

They are reaching out to the voters in a non-conventional way which includes holding meetings at their residence or party offices and their supporters indulging in door-todoor campaigns. “It would have been better if I addressed public meetings and held rallies, but I have decided to keep the campaign low-key,” Maheshwar Thounaojam, who has deployed teams of volunteers fordoor-to-doorcampaigning, said. “The voters know the importance oftheir vote inthe currentsituationandwillmake aninformedchoice,”headded. Basanta Kumar Singh, the sitting Education and Law Minister of the state, who is contesting theLokSabhapolls thistime,isholdingsmallmeetings at his residence and the party office. Similarly, Akoijam, aprofessor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University,Delhi,mostlymeetspeople at his residence. Posters of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and thoseseekingvoters for Akoij am have also been put up at theCongress office in Imphal. “Elections are importantforus but we cannot rub salt inpeople’s wounds by doingpomp and show. Elections arealso like a festival but we cannot celebrate the festival in aloud manner because of thecurrentsituation”BJPManipurPresident A Sharda Devi toldPTI. “People are living awayfrom their homes, we want them to have faith inus butweare not campaigning,” the BJPleader added. A senior state governmentofficial asserted that any kind of loud campaign can be detrimental to the law and order situation in the state.