Displaced Kuki-Zos from Manipur in Mizoram face challenges in participating in Lok Sabha polls

NEW DELHI: Thousands of Kuki-Zo community members from Manipur, seeking refuge in Mizoram following ethnic strife in their home state, may face obstacles in participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As of now, no provisions have been made for these Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Manipur to cast their votes, an election commission official told new agency PTI.

Data from the Mizoram home department indicates that a total of 9196 adults and children from neighbouring Manipur have sought shelter in various parts of Mizoram.

“Discussions are underway among Election Commission officials regarding enabling displaced Manipuris across the country to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming elections. However, there are currently no plans for special arrangements,” the official was quoted as saying by PTI.

The two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur are scheduled for polling on April 19 and April 26.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar recently stated that the election commission of India (ECI) has devised a scheme to facilitate voting for displaced individuals from Manipur in the camps where they are residing.

Manipur chief electoral officer (CEO) Pradeep Kumar Jha clarified to reporters that the scheme is applicable only within the state’s territorial jurisdiction.

Also read: Manipur: Four children from IDP relief camp drown in Tuitha River in Churachandpur

According to a tribal organization in Churachandpur district of Manipur, Kuki-Zo people are also residing in Delhi and other cities across the country, besides Mizoram.

Previously, the ECI permitted IDPs to cast their votes from their host states.

Mizoram's Bru community, displaced to Tripura due to ethnic tensions in 1997, were allowed to vote via postal ballots in relief camps in Tripura.

However, in 2018, exclusive polling stations were established at a village on the Mizoram-Tripura border following opposition from Mizoram civil society groups.

Of the 9196 Manipur residents staying in Mizoram, 1340 are in 26 relief camps, while 7856 are residing outside the camps, as per the data.

Aizawl district in Mizoram accommodates the highest number of displaced people from Manipur at 4446, followed by Kolasib district at 2674 and Saitual district at 1275.

The displaced people in Manipur seeking refuge in Mizoram predominantly belong to the minority Kuki-Zo community, sharing ethnic ties with the Mizos.

They have sought shelter in Mizoram since May last year due to the ongoing ethnic conflicts in their home state Manipur.