No Govt employee found campaigning for election to be spared: CEO
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 17, 2012: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PC Lawmkunga has warned that no government employee would be spared if they were found campaigning for election in defiance of the instructions given by the Election Commission of India in this regard.

Participating in a workshop organized jointly by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) at Manipur Press Club here today, Lawmkunga informed that on receipt of a complaint that some police personnel who were deployed on duty at Wangjing-Tentha were working in favour of one candidate, they have been immediately transferred to some other place.

"Not just the police, if any government employee were found participation in election campaign or speaking in favour of any candidates, then necessary action would be taken against them", the CEO said, adding that if any individual were found carrying cash more than Rs 2.5 lakh, it would be seized at once.

Stating that complaint from the people in connection with organizing feasting or doling out money in connection with the election is always welcome, the CEO, however, appealed against filing complaints with the intention of challenging the authority.

There is no reason why complaints which are reasonable would not be acted upon, the CEO added.

He further informed that National Voters' Day would be observed on January 25 to sensitize the voters on their rights and duties.

Senior journalist Irengbam Arun, who also attended the workshop, pointed out that public can elect their right candidates if they could connect the election with the various public movements that have been launched over important issues in the state from time to time.

Arun said that public should cast their votes only after analyzing the assets declared by the candidates, their sources of income, their principles and the works carried out for public welfare in the past.

There can be no good governance if the voters cast their votes expecting some benefits for themselves from the candidates after they have been elected.

Public should also try to find out to what extent the political parties would remain faithful to the 'commitment' made in their respective election manifestos.

He went on to point out that when the Chief Ministers of all the states declared their assets recently, Chief Minister O Ibobi has turned out to the poorest Chief Minister with his assets worth only Rs 9 lakh.

Such declaration caused laughter among the people.

Even if no evidences could be produced, anyone can guess how much wealth and properties Ibobi has amassed over the years.

Likewise, public should not be fooled by such asset declaration of all the candidates and exercise their franchise judiciously in electing their representatives who would steer course of the fate for the next five years, Arun urged.

News Editor of ISTV Y Rupachandra contended that election is the time when most youngsters drown themselves in drugs and other intoxicants with candidates ensuring free flow of these substances.

The candidates have no second thought over the consequences of such practices of electioneering and what they care about is only winning the election. Joint CEO Pravin and Additional Secretary of SVEEP A Tombikanta were also among others who spoke at the workshop.

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