Northeast Desk, 19th April: The first phase of polling in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, commenced at 7:00 am amidst deserted polling stations as the Kuki-Zo community adhered to the abstention call issued by their apex body.
Across the district, including polling stations managed by Persons with Disabilities (PwD), those exclusively managed by women, and special polling stations for displaced voters, the absence of Kuki-Zo voters was notable.
While voters from other communities exercised their franchise rights, the overall voter turnout was significantly lower compared to previous elections.
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, the paramount authority for the Kuki community, issued a resolute proclamation urging all Kuki residents in Sadar Hills to refrain from voting in the Lok Sabha Election. They emphasized that this decision wasn’t a boycott but a deliberate choice to abstain from voting.
The apex body explained that despite efforts to select a consensus candidate from the Kuki-Zo community, consensus couldn’t be reached. Therefore, in coordination with stakeholders and acknowledged by the Kuki Inpi Manipur, a unanimous decision was made to abstain from voting.
In the II-Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, four candidates are vying for the seat, including BJP-backed NFP candidate Kachui Timothy Zimik, Congress candidate Alfred Kanngam Arthur, and two Independent candidates, S. Kho John and Dr. Alyson Abonmai.
With over one lakh electors in Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, the directive to abstain from voting was reinforced by the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, instructing village chiefs and individuals to adhere to the joint resolution.
Endorsed by the Committee on Tribal Unity and various other Kuki bodies in the district, the abstention call underscores the unified stance of the Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi District.
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