NPF appeals against photo comparison
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 09, 2012:
The Naga People's Front (NPF) has appealed to the Chief Electoral Officer not to compare photographs of voters taken on polling day and their photographs affixed on Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).
An official source informed that NPF candidate in Chandel AC ST Nunghlung Victor submitted a written appeal to the CEO today not to compare photographs taken on polling day with photographs affixed on EPICs.
In his complaint letter, the NPF candidate maintained that the voters of Chandel AC were allowed to cast votes by the Presiding Officers after assessing the local situation and circumstances.
Declaring the votes thus polled as invalid would amount to denying Indian citizenship to the people of Chandel AC, Nunghlung Victor said.
On the other hand, it is reported that photographs of only 11,73,863 were taken on the day of polling and re-polling even as a total of 13,92,596 voters cast their votes.
It is said that photographs of 2,18,733 voters could not be taken due to darkness inside polling booths and lack of expertise on the part of polling officials to handle cameras.
As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, District Election Officers and Returning Officers have been undertaking the work of photo comparison and it is nearing completion.
It is likely that re-poll may be held in some polling stations including the valley.
As candidates and their agents have been complaining against photo comparison, the CEO has raised the matter with the ECI.
The CEO has forwarded all the complaints filed by candidates and their agents together with reports of concerned ROs to the ECI.
It is said that the ECI has been closely examining the complaints.
A date would be fixed for re-poll after receiving report of the photo comparison.
Meanwhile, MPCC president Gaikhangam has filed a complaint with the ECI alleging that some citizens of Nagaland were allowed to vote in some polling stations of Mao AC in favour of the NPF candidate.