India to hold re-election at 11 places in Manipur after violence
India, amidst conducting the world's largest election has decided to conduct a re-election at 11 polling stations in the northeastern state of Manipur on Monday due to reports of violence and damage to voting equipment.
Manipur has been embroiled in months of ethnic tensions, prompting the election authorities to take this step.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur issued a statement late on Saturday announcing the nullification of voting at the 11 locations and ordering a fresh round of polling. This decision comes as part of the ongoing electoral process, which began on Friday and will continue until June 1st, involving nearly one billion voters across the country.
The opposition Congress party, in particular, had called for a re-election at 47 polling stations in Manipur, alleging incidents of booth capture and electoral fraud. While voting commenced on Friday amidst heightened security measures, there were sporadic instances of violence in the state. These included clashes between armed groups and attempts to seize control of polling stations, despite stringent security arrangements.
Despite the risks and challenges, voters in Manipur demonstrated resilience by turning out in significant numbers to exercise their franchise. The region has witnessed ongoing clashes over the past year, resulting in the loss of lives of at least 220 individuals.
.png "Advertisement")
