India, known for its mammoth elections, will redo voting at 11 polling locations in Manipur, northeastern India, due to violence and voting machine damage in the state, which has been gripped by months of ethnic clashes.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur announced the invalidation of voting at these 11 locations and mandated a fresh poll, as stated in a late Saturday declaration.
The commencement of voting on Friday marked the initiation of the world’s largest democratic exercise, with nearly a billion eligible voters participating in India’s election season until June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to secure an unprecedented third term, leveraging issues such as economic growth, welfare, and Hindu nationalism.
The primary opposition, Congress party, pressed for reruns at 47 polling stations in Manipur, alleging booth capture and election manipulation.
Incidents of violence were sporadic on Friday in the state, with clashes among armed factions and attempts to seize polling stations under heightened security. Despite the looming threat of violence, voters turned out in significant numbers, notwithstanding clashes that have claimed the lives of at least 220 individuals over the past year.
Manipur has been engulfed in conflict between the majority Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zo communities since May. It remains deeply divided between a Meitei-controlled valley and Kuki-dominated hills, with a buffer zone patrolled by federal paramilitary forces.
