Imphal: Social activist Shanjoy Ahanthem wants the Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur to release the full voter history of Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip. Recent social media reports cast doubt on the legislator's registration records. Ahanthem says the public deserves the truth. If reports are accurate, Haokip and his family did not appear on any electoral rolls in Manipur or the Saikot constituency until 2021.
This gap covers 46 to 47 years of the MLA's life. Born in 1974, Haokip's eligibility to run for office hinges on these records. Ahanthem argues that an elected representative must be held to a higher standard than the average citizen. Any verified irregularity strikes at the heart of the electoral system. He stated, "The issue was not about an ordinary elector but an elected public representative."
The activist also raised alarms about surging voter counts in districts like Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, and Kangpokpi. He links this growth to the sudden emergence of newly recognized villages in government filings. Many civil society groups now back his call to implement the National Register of Citizens across the state.
The goal is to weed out illegal immigrants before conducting a fresh census. Ahanthem is pushing the State Government to form an expert committee to review the draft electoral rolls from the Special Intensive Revision. He warned that ignoring these discrepancies could permanently damage the demographics of the indigenous population.
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