Heingang INC, Keirao NPP candidates demand re-poll
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 28 2022:
Pangeijam Saratchandra, who is the INC candidate in Heingang assembly constituency, has filed a complaint to the authority concerned requesting to conduct re-poll in 11 polling stations in the constituency stating that INC agents were now allowed to sit inside the polling stations.
Addressing a press meet on Monday evening, Saratchandra said that chief minister N Biren, who is his rival candidate in the election, often made appeals to make the election peaceful, free and fair.
After listening to his appeals, he thought that the election in his home constituency would be free and fair.
However, the ground situation turned out to be opposite.
All the INC's inner agents had been provided relevant documents and authorisation letters to'sit inside their respective polling stations on Sunday.
However, BJP workers intimidated his inner agents and threatened banish them from their respective villages.
As a result, the INC agents could not enter in the 11 polling stations as the BJP workers prevented their movement both since Sunday and on their way to the polling stations on Monday morning.
The polling stations in question are 2/1,2,3, 7,11,12,14 and 30, he pointed out.
Maintaining that the conduct of election in these polling stations was far from being free and fair as INC agents were denied entry, Saratchandra said that it is unfortunate for the chief minister to allow such rampant violation of democratic rights in his home constituency.
The INC candidate informed he had filed complaints with the appeal for re-poll in those 11 polling stations to the Election Commission of India, Chief Electoral Officer Manipur and returning officer of the constituency.
He further informed that no police came to the rescue of the INC agents when BJP workers threatened them.
However, large number of police came when INC workers went to their houses to enquire about the intimidation and around 50 INC workers were picked up by police only to be released in the wee hours of Monday.
Meanwhile, Keirao AC NPP candidate Md Nasiruddin alias Boy has informed that complaints have been lodged to chief electoral officer (CEO) for re-poll in eight polling stations where only BJP agents were allowed access in the first phase of election held Monday.
Speaking to media persons, Md Nasiruddin contended that no other agents except for BJP were allowed in the eight polling stations of Keirao A/C namely 6/32, 6/36, 6/38, 6/13, 6/15/6/14, 6/37 and 6/31."Today's election in Keirao A/C is not free and fair at all.
Such violation of the rights of people has never been occurred in the history of the constituency", he condemned.
Informing that he directly went to polling station 6/32 Phunal Maring where NPP agents were restricted, Nasiruddin continued that supporters of other parties who were already there, vandalised'vehicles.
In order to elect the right candidate, the voters should fee allowed to cast their votes freely.
Such acts that stymied free and fair conduct of election is unfortunate, Nasiruddin said, while urging ECI to look into the matter and conduct re-poll in the eight polling stations.
A written complaint was also submitted to CEO in this regard by his election agent, he added.