'Poll at Andro was held free and fair'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 19 2019: Voting at polling station 7/39 Nungbram Primary School, Andro AC was done without any hindrance to influence the election, claimed ex-Pradhan and social worker Khumanthem Rajmani at Nungbram Thumkhong Lairembi Youth Club community hall and refuted that one Koijam Achou was beaten by mob during the election yesterday.

There were some minor incidents and scuffle between parties but were not violent and the poll was held peacefully, he claimed.

The voting for Inner seat at the polling station started at around 7.30 am and at around 11, Wangkhem AC MLA K Meghachandra and his elder brother Ningthemjao came at the polling station in two vehicles, claimed Rajmani and alleged that Ningthemjao entered inside the polling booth.

Ningthemjao allegedly threatened the presiding officer and snatched voter slip of one Thangjam Ongbi Sophia, he claimed and added that Sophia immediately informed the people about the incident.

'Poll at Andro was held free and fair'

People retrieved the voter slip from Ningthemjao and later, he left the polling station after he was asked to leave, claimed Rajmani.

Meanwhile, 'Koijam Achou who was drunk' at the time tried to enter the booth causing a scene, he asserted and added that a minor scuffle broke out when people tried to stop Achou from entering the booth.

The people were not violent and Achou was not beaten at all, he claimed.

Clarifying about a report which appeared on social media, he said that he is not the Pradhan and Khumanthem Thasana is the Pradhan now.

"Congress agent Sanasam Jadumani, consistently under the influence of alcohol, lodged complaints to the polling officers," he said and added that however, there were no attempts to influence the vote by any party.

MLA K Meghachandra, MLA K Ranjit and MLA Surajkumar visited the polling station and left without any complain.

However, K Meghachandra, in press briefing, has claimed that the election at the polling station was not conducted in a free and fair manner.

It is unfortunate and false allegation, he added and asserted that the allegation has maligned the image of Andro and the locality.

The claims of the CPI candidate Dr M Nara are also 'false and baseless' .

Dr Nara never visited the polling station and his claims are false, Rajmani said.

Meanwhile, former Moirangpurel GP Pradhan Nameirakpam Nimaichand, who was also present at the press meet, refuted a social media report that alleged that he was beaten during the election yesterday.

"I was never beaten by anyone during the election yesterday.

The reports which appeared on social media sites are false and baseless," he said.

Nongpok Keithel Manbi Meira Paibi secretary Sanabam Sanajaobi said that MLA K Meghachandra with a large number of supporters came to the polling station 7/40.However, Meira Paibis, fearing disruption of the election processes by the huge supporters who accompanied the MLA, stopped them and requested the MLA to enter the polling site alone, she said and asserted that one of the supporter of the MLA manhandled her asking her authority at the polling station.

She fell on the ground after the man pulled her, she claimed.

Afterwards, people asked them to leave the place, she said and claimed that the election was held free and fair because of their timely intervention and actions.