EC takes umbrage at MPP's burning effigies of CEO, RO during protest
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 28 2009:
ATTENTION OF the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been drawn to the burning of effigies of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Manipur, Shambhu Singh and Returning Officer (RO) of Imphal East district, M Lakshmikumar during a protest demonstration staged by workers and leaders of MPP on April 26 at the gate of the party's office.
The State Electoral Office is likely to send show cause notices to the leaders of MPP soon.
It may be recalled here that workers and leaders of MPP, Chanura Marup and MPP Youth Front had staged a sit-in-protest at the gate of the MPP's office on April 26 demanding re-poll in the entire Andro Assembly Constituency.
The protesters also burnt effigies of the CEO and the RO of Imphal East district at the fag end of the protest.
According to reliable sources, the ECI has taken serious note of the method of the protest by the workers and leaders of MPP and has directed the State Election Office to send a report about the incident immediately.
Following the directive, the State Electoral Office has sent a detailed report to the ECI today.
The matter was discussed at the office of the CEO and the method of burning effigy of the CEO was taken in bad light, sources said and added that show cause notices are likely to be issued to the leaders of MPP.
The sources said that the election model code of conduct prohibits workers of any political party burning effigiesas a mark of protest.
If the ECI finds that the workers and functionaries of MPP had violated election model code of conduct during the protest, it is likely to take actions against the MPP including de-recognising the party as a regional political party, the sources said.
In the meanwhile, the ECI has also asked the State Electoral Office to send a detailed report on the allegations of mass proxy voting at polling stations No.7/9, 7/10, 7/13, 7/14, 7/15, 7/30, 7/32, 7/33, 7/34, 7/35 and 7/36 and also the allegations that some hyper sensitive polling stations had been turned into normal polling stations and unarmed VDF personnel were deployed as security, as the MPP and CPI had complained to the CEC.
The ECI had asked the State Electoral Office to send the report today itself and thus a report has been sent, the sources added.
In another complaint lodged by PDA candidate Mani Charenamei that 100% voting had been recorded at a particular polling station in Khangabok AC during the polling of Outer Manipur Parliamentary election on April 16, the ECI has also directed the State Electoral Office to send a detailed report.
The SEO is understood to have sent a report.