Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 29 2009:
ELECTION COMMISSION of India (ECI) has begun enquiring into the complaints of alleged riggings at certain polling stations on the day of polling of the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency on April 22 in consultation with the state Chief Electoral Officer, and is likely to take a decision with regard to the re-polls demanded by the CPI and the MPP.
State CEO, Shambu Singh who is currently camping in New Delhi, has been called there by the ECI, a reliable source in the state CEO office disclosed.
The CEO has been called up to discuss and take a decision with regard to the complaints on alleged widespread voting in proxy in the two Parliamentary constituencies where polling was held on two different dates, April 16 and 22, the source said.
During his stay in the national capital, the state CEO Shambu Singh will hold discussions with Chief Election Commissioner, Navin Chawla and Election Commissioner, SY Quraishi on the facts and circumstances that led to the complaints put up by the political parties and candidates.
Shambhu Singh is scheduled to return to Imphal on May 3 carrying a final decision of the ECI regarding re-poll.
Among other things, the ECI has taken serious note of the alleged proxy voting at 35/32 of Khangabok Assembly constituency of Thoubal district which is included in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency during polling on April 16, which came to light after the PDA candidate, Mani Charenamei lodged a complaint with the ECI.
Mani Charenamei had lodged the complaint on the massive proxy-voting after the report of 100 percent voting at this particular polling station was published in the media.
However the RO of the constituency later clarified that no 100 percent voting was recorded at the polling station.
Responding to the complaint of the PDA candidate, ECI had called up a report on the matter which the state CEO had also furnished the report.
On the other hand MPP and CPI with strong charge of proxy voting at various polling stations during the polling in the Inner Parliamentary constituency have been demanding re-poll.
CPI is demanding re-poll to as many as 16 polling stations, out of which 13 are in Andro Assembly segment, one in Thoubal A/C and two in Patsoi A/C while MPP in the entire polling stations in Andro Assembly constituency.
The state CEO office has been defending the allegation by submitting a report that they have no evidence to proof widespread proxy voting in the polling stations which the CPI and MPP are alleging.
Not satisfied with the report of the state CEO, MPP and CPI put up the matter directly to the heads of the ECI in New Delhi and pressing the authority concern for conduct of re-poll.