Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Manipur to address a public meeting on Monday.
A high alert has been sounded in the state considering the visit and sudden spurt of violence during the last few days due to attacks by various armed persons.
The BJP is fielding Education Minister Th Basanta in Inner Manipur and supporting the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Outer Manipur. The Manipur government has banned the use of drones or Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV) in the city areas.
Actions will be taken against those who disturb the permanent Red Zone areas covering Raj Bhavan, the CM Secretariat office complex, the Assembly complex, the Civil Secretariat, the Police Headquarters, and Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.
Amit Shah is likely to reach Imphal around 2 pm and address a public meeting at Hapta Kangjeibung, and leave Imphal around 4.30 pm.
Election campaigning is not done as it was earlier due to the crisis in the state. The national highways have remained blocked since May 2023, and all those in the valley areas have no access to the outside world except air travel. The supply of essential supplies has gone down.
Many organisations and Displaced persons who are now living in relief camps are demanding postponement of election. Congress candidates Dr Bimol in Inner Manipur and Alfred in Outer Manipur are under constant threat, and their meetings have been stopped by firing and intimidation by armed persons.
Meanwhile, family members of 31 people who went missing during the crisis said they would highlight the issue to the visiting Union Home Minister and demand actions to trace the missing persons.
Six candidates are in the fray for the 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency seat. Those in the fray are Rajkumar Somendro Singh @ Kaiku, Manipur People’s Party (Ind), Moirangthem Totomshana Nongshaba (Ind), Maheshwar Thounaojam, Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A),, Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) , Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Indian National Congress(INC) and Haorungbam Sarat Singh , ( Ind ).
Four candidates are in the fray for the 2-Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. The candidates are Alfred Kanngam S Arthur, Indian National Congress, Kachui Timothy Zimik, Naga People’s Front, Alyson Abonmai (Independent) and S. Kho John (Independent).
Election for Inner Manipur will be held on April 19, and the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency elections will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26.
