INC candidate demands repoll
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2022: Alleging that the BJP candidate and his supporters indulged in large scale electoral malpractices at four polling stations of Wangkhem AC, INC candidate MLA Keisham Meghachandra has petitioned the CEO Manipur to hold repoll at the four polling stations.

After submitting a complaint to the CEO office at Lamphelpat this afternoon, Meghachandra told media persons that BJP candidate Y Nabachandra and his supporters threatened, assaulted and drove out INC polling agents from polling stations 32/7, 32/8, 32/9 and 32/10 .

People who were standing in queues were driven out from these polling stations.

Thus BJP workers made a mockery of the democratic process of polling, Meghachandra said.

"The act of stopping a large number of people from casting votes in favour of candidates/political parties of their choice is a very serious matter.

That was why I lodged a complaint with the CEO to hold repoll at the four polling stations", the Congress candidate said.

He said that he had already submitted a similar petition to the Returning Officer of Wangkhem AC.

Meghachandra said that Y Nabachandra contested the last Assembly election held in 2017 as a candidate of NEIDP.

During the last State Assembly election, he attacked Congress workers and supporters by setting ablaze and vandalising their houses, physically assaulting them and dispersing toxic substances in fish rearing ponds, Meghachandra alleged.

In connection with these criminal activities, many FIRs are pending at Thoubal police station, he said.

Like in the previous election, Nabachandra and his supporters physically assaulted some INC supporters and opened fire at their houses after the polling hour was over yesterday, Meghachandra said.

He said that there were signs of Government machinery working in favour of BJP in this election.

The district administration and the district police were informed repeatedly about the electoral malpractices committed by the BJP candidate and his supporters at the four polling stations yesterday.

"Except for the reply that a team had been sent, no police team came to any of the four polling stations.

But when conflicts erupted at Yairipok and Charangpat, large number of police teams rushed to these places, Meghachandra continued.

"I am neither aggrieved nor afraid of Government machinery working in favour of BJP but I would definitely ask why people's right to vote are being forfeited in such manner", said the Congress candidate.

If some elements must be given free run in such manner, there is no point in holding election, he said.

There are reports that the RPI-A candidate too has lodged a complaint seeking repoll at the four polling stations, he said.

He then exuded confidence that the CEO, after studying video footages of the webcams used in webcasting, would order repoll at the four polling stations.

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