Manipur, March 17 -- Even as unrest in the state continue to drag on for more than 10 months for no foreseeable solution in sight, there was uncertainty on whether elections could be held or not. The conduct of free and fair elections needs a conducive atmosphere. On the other hand, certain sections had already expressed their objections to holding of parliamentary elections till peace and normalcy returns in the state. A market based women organisation had even issued a warning sometime back that anybody found engaged in election campaign would be tonsured.

Except for the political parties, both ruling and Opposition, many CSOs and common folk are having reservations on elections till the conflict is resolved. But then, elections were h...