Imphal: Barely 11 days to go, campaigning for the January 28 Manipur Assembly polls is at a low ebb with candidates confining themselves to hoisting flags at their houses and that of their supporters.
Apart from hoisting flags at their houses, candidates were doing house-to-house campaigns to woo voters in their favours. However, loud speakers have not been used and the ubiquitous posters are missing.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which was a major issue in previous election, is no longer a major issue this time although political parties have raised it during the campaigning, reports said.
Candidates are concentrating on issues like erratic power supply, shortage of drinking water, insurgency problem, previous government's failure to make the national highways free from any trouble.
There has not been any major public meetings of any party to woo voters, reports said, adding it may be because of restrictions imposed by various insurgent outfits on political parties.
Political observers said no political party or their supporters have campaigned in favour of their candidates by using public loud speakers or put up posters at any public places in favour of their candidates.
"It is silent all over unlike in the past," reports said adding that the polls this time was totally different from the past. Political observers said every voter should have the opportunity to choose the representative of their choice and too much restrictions both by insurgents and authorities was 'not advisable'.
Seven major insurgent organisations have banned the campaigning of Congress and its workers, saying that they were against the 'revolutionary movement' of Manipur.
The insurgents have exploded and hurled grenades and bombs at several places across the Manipur valley at several places in the past two weeks during which some were injured and houses destroyed.
Press statements issued by them said they would not spare persons who disobeyed their 'diktat' before and after the elections. Election office sources said candidates have been instructed not to go out in the night to campaign for the elections although whoever has filed nomination papers have been provided adequate security personnel.
Sources said out of 350 companies (3500 security personnel) including 280 para military forces, more than 218 companies have arrived in Imphal, adding that the personnel were now engaging in foot patrolling and other activities to acclimatise the situation.
Reports from the districts said no community feast was held to woo voters this time unlike in previous elections because of restrictions from the election commission. In the previous assembly elections, candidates had organised community feast at every place to woo voters.
Election office said observers including police observers had come and were closely monitoring the activities of the candidates and supporters in regard to their expenditures, and other things.
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