NPF alleges poll code violation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06, 2012:
Alleging that the election code of conduct was violated in Chingai AC during the recent re-poll, NPF agent of Chingai AC V Ningwon has submitted a written complaint to the Returning Officer/District Election Officer, Ukhrul district seeking necessary action at the earliest.
According to the complaint letter, the notification for re-poll was issued on January 31 in a biased and unjust manner which was totally against the instruction published for conducting the election peacefully and smoothly.
Though the election was conducted peacefully and smoothly in the polling stations at Somdal and Ngaimu, it was notified for repolling without listing proper reason whereas, in the case of Tuinem Govt.High School (NW) booth (45/51), the presiding officer had recommended for repoll but was not entertained for unspecified reason.
It questioned as to why re-poll was notified for only Somdal and Ngaimu Village.
It further alleged even security personnel interfered in the electoral machinery so as to delay the voting process on account of which many voters went back without exercising their voting rights which is totally a violation of democratic principle of the country.
The Security personnel intimidated the voters by checking their identities and fingers which were inked on January 28 and were debarred from exercising their voting right even after being identified and verified by the PLO and agents of various parties.
The NPF agent said that even the EVM machines were not functioning normally and moreover, the Presiding Officers of the concerned polling stations could not even pronounce the names of voters which created a deliberate delay in the process of casting their votes.
Questioning as to why only the photographs of Somdal polling station was picked and shown blatantly to others right after the polling, the agent asked why photographs of 13 other polling stations were not taken.
I also expressed dismay over the alleged undue interference and over-indulgence by security forces in all the nine polling stations of 45 Chingai AC where re-poll was held on the pretext of providing security which led to more inordinate delay on account of which more than 30 per cent of the total voters could not exercise their franchise in some of the stations.
It demanded that photographs and finger-prints be checked and scrutinised for all the 13 polling stations i.e.Jessami - 45/1, 45/2, Kharasom - 45/8, 45/10, Poi - 45/ 15, 45/16, Namrei - 45/11, Tusom - 45/17, 45/19, Wahong - 45/20, Chalou - 45/22, Awang Kasom- 45/26 and Luirei Shimphung - 45/27, where the poll percentage was between 90 per cent and 98 per cent.