Need for Serious Intervention in Electoral Conduct
Manipur-Election-2022: Phase 2

Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) *

The Youth Collective Manipur is saddened by the unfortunate events that unfolded on the 5 March poll. YCM monitors observed a total of 67 polling stations in 13 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) out of the twenty-seven (27) that went to polls, including those that had re-poll.

Violent incidents were widespread in the previous night of the election. On poll day, while most polling stations concluded without any major incidents, some polling stations had witnessed extreme violence including senous injuries and even deaths.

Similar to first phase polls, cases of booth capturing, damaging of EVM, malfunction of EVM and proxy voting reportedly occurred. Violent confrontations among party workers as well as between officials and party workers created havoc in some ACs. From the issues reported, there were also isolated cases of self-disenfranchising due to fear and intimidation.

As per the ECI statement released on the poll vide COE-101/1/2021-ELEC-Media 12 incidence of "damage to EVM by miscreants" is reported, while re-poll is ordered only in six (6) polling stations in 4 ACs vide order no. COE-101/1/2021-ELEC-ED dated 7 March 2022. Details of the polling stations and YCM's remarks are given below:

Assembly Constituencies	PS where damage of EVM is reported	PS where re- polling is ordered	YCM remarks
42-Tengnoupal	42/4, 42/13, 42/16, 42/18, 42/42 and 42/43	-	Why no re-poll ordered in all 6 PS?
44-Ukhrul	44/64 and 44/70	44/45- Ukhrul (E- 2)	Why re-poll in 44/45 PS? Why no re-poll in 44/64 and 44/70?
45- Chingai	45/26 and 45/31	45/25- Kahlang, 45/31- Peh (B)	Why re-poll only in PS 45/31 and not in 45/26?
47-Karong	47/49	47/49- Ngamju	Nil
49-Tadubi	49/51	49/4- Yangkhullen (A), 49/51- Mao Marafii	Why re-polling in PS 49/4?

Further, election misconduct have been reported in many more polling stations at the valley ACs even though not as widespread as in the hill ACs. Complaints have also been filed with the ECI in some cases, however, no re-poll has been ordered.

It may also be noted that all the re-poll have been ordered on the ground of "damage of EVM" [u/s 58(2) of Representation of People s Act, 1951] and no re-poll have been ordered on the ground of "booth capture" [u/s 58A(2) of RPA 1951] even though incidents of booth capture have been reported widely. Orders issued by ECI on these matters do not provide the parameters or grounds on which the decisions are taken.

In the second phase poll, most candidates in ACs with highest voter turnout are documented crorepati. Likewise, vote buying was reportedly widespread on 5 March Polls. Yet again violations of MCC have been overshadowed by violent incidents that occurred including on the day of polls. In some ACs accessibility to report elections were challenged, the media in particular For instance, a media person was reportedly attacked by a violent mob present in the vicinity of the polling station.

The 2022-Election has proven that genuine free expression of the will of people still remains a far cry. Therefore, YCM urges all relevant stakeholders to collectively address the electoral issues confronting us to deepen democracy in Manipur


(Thongam Zingo)
Coordinator,
People's Election Monitoring
Youth Collective Manipur (YCM)

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* Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) wrote this Press Release which was provided by Babloo Loitongbam of HRA
This article was webcasted on March 08 2022.

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