Non-Cong parties against repoll
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2012: A joint meeting of like minded non Congress political parties was held today at Imphal and it resolved to urge the Election Commission of In dia not to go for re-poll on account of the proxy votes cast in some polling stations.

The joint meeting held in the backdrop of the ECI's intimation to the CEO to prepare for re-poll was attended by representatives of NCP, NPF, MSCP, MPP, CPI, CPI (M), BJP, JD (U), AITC and NPP.

The meeting which went on for three hours deliberated on the likely situation of re-poll in the aftermath of the photo comparison work during which a large number of voters' photographs taken on polling day were found not matching with their EPIC photographs.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Dr Nimaichand Luwang and O Joy of MPP, PA Thekho of NPF, Radhabinod Koijam of NCP and Prof S Tiken of BJP.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Radhabinod Koijam said that after studying the complaints of election malpractices as well as reports of the photo comparison work, the ECI has been studying poll procedures in many other Assembly segments.

He said that the political parties have discussed at length what their position would be and how would they put their stance to the ECI-appointed special observers who would be coming to Imphal again for consultation with political parties with regard to re-poll in Manipur.

Political parties which were present in today's meeting have unanimously decided to urge the ECI to reject and exclude proxy votes from counting, to identify and reject forged postal ballots ahead of counting if there is any and ensure availability of postal ballots to candidates together with names of voters.

To a query, Radhabinod Koijam said that non-Congress political parties never demanded for re-poll.

Re-poll would not only entail additional expenditure but it would also increase the number of proxy votes besides giving undue advantage to Congress party, Radhabinod said.

Clarifying about absence of Congress party in today's meeting, the NCP president said that it was an exclusive meeting for like minded non-Congress parties.

The meeting also rejected bogus votes as well as bogus parties, the former Chief Minister added.

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