145 votes cast unfairly should be declared null: MSCP
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 05, 2012:
Alleging that 145 votes were unfairly cast in polling station number 54/9- Chakanglong, Nungba A/C, after the polling period was over forcefully by Congress candidate, Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) has complained to the State Chief Electoral Officer to declare those votes as invalid.
Addressing media persons at its office at Palace Compound today, Vivekraj Wangkhem, spokesperson of MSCP, said that after the re-poll conducted yesterday in polling station number 54/9- Chakanglong under Nungba A/C, was declared over by the Presiding Officer at 3:15 pm and the EVM was sealed, the Congress candidate of Nungba A/C forcibly made 145 electorates cast their vote till late in the evening.
The voting was done with only the Congress candidate inside the polling station.
Adim Pamei, MSCP candidate in Nungba A/C also relating the same incident said that Gaikhangam, MPCC President, who is contesting in the State Assembly election on the Congress ticket from Nungba A/C forcefully made 145 voters to cast their votes even after the time of casting vote was over.
The election agent of the Congress, John Pamei shot 4/5 rounds of blank fire creating chaos in the area and forcibly making 145 voters to cast their votes in another EVM.
The voting which was done by force started from 5:15 pm to 9:30 pm.
The act was carried out with the help of the security forces deployed in that area and the NSCN-IM, he alleged.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the postal ballots of Heirok A/C under Thoubal district which were supposed to reach the electors concerned through post have not been delivered so far.
Arrangements are being made for distribution of postal ballots to the elector concerned personally by the Superintendent of Police on February 14. In this regard, the election secretary of MSCP candidate Sumatibala has appealed to the concern authority not to let such thing take place at any cost.