Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 19 2009:
MPP president, Dr L Chandramani and Th Chaoba, candidate of the party for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency today called on MLA Th Shyamkumar who is in the Imphal Central Jail after resigning from the post of Deputy Speaker yesterday.
Meanwhile, sources observed that the former Deputy Speaker will not get the right to vote in the upcoming elections to the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency as he has been remanded in the judicial custody as under trial prisoner (UTP) .
The two leaders of the MPP met with the MLA this afternoon around 2.30 pm as first visitors after he has been sent to judicial custody till May 2 next after he surrendered before the court.
They were given only 10 minutes to talk with the MLA even though the two leaders sought for more time.
No other person visited the jailed MLA for the day.
As per the jail manual effective in the state, an official of the central jail said the state authority has so far not granted permission or arranged to allow the UTPs to cast votes in the elections.
But the jail authority can arrange for the inmates who had been convicted or detained under NSA to cast vote if they seek permission, the source said and added that even for an MLA, there is no special provision to allow him to cast vote.
The jail authority is also treating him equally with any other ordinary prisoners.