Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 14 2009:
After the vocal but unsuccessful demands of MPP and CPI for re-poll in some polling stations of Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency that went to polls on April 22 on the alleged charge of large scale rigging and proxy voting, BJP Manipur State unit has raised a similar allegation of mass rigging in five polling stations of Keishamthong Assembly segment.
Interestingly, counting of votes is scheduled to begin in the next 48 hours.
MPP election agent Y Mangi has also written to the Election Commission of India to exclude 11 polling stations of Andro A/C from counting.
Speaking to media persons at its office today, BJP state unit president Dr Haobam Borbabu said a complaint has been submitted to the ECI about the alleged use of force and indulging in mass rigging in five polling stations��12/26, 12/27, 12/28, 12/24 and 12/29 of Keishamthong A/C.Workers of a powerful party which is a constituent of the ruling SPF Government, taking advantage of unarmed VDFs deployed in those polling stations, indulged in large scale rigging and proxy voting in connivance of the polling personnel in favour of the Congress candidate.
VDFs are not Government employees.
They were recruited after the election code of conduct has come into force on contract basis at monthly emolument of Rs 3000 per month, Borbabu asserted.
Exuding confidence that its poll strategies against PDA candidate Mani Charenamei in the Outer constituency would prove successful, the BJP president claimed that BJP led NDA Government will come into power at the Centre after the election results are declared.
BJP condemned the humiliating manner of frisking women at Khwairamband Keithel in the name of counter-insurgency operations as well as the killing of five non-locals in Keibul Lamjao National Park by unidentified persons.
He also appealed to all concerned not to repeat such acts in future.
Former MLA and Law Secretary L Ibomcha's written complaint to the ECI was not for ordering re-poll but to reform the failed election system of India as well as to be vigilant against malpractices.
An investigation conducted by BJP workers extending over a period of 18 days discovered that around 100 proxy votes representing dead persons, outstation voters and ailing persons undergoing treatment at hospitals were cast in five polling stations.
Ibomcha appealed to the authority concerned to enquire into the proxy voting in the name of one Irengbam Bhorot who is a chairman of a UG group in polling station 12/24 and to take up necessary punitive actions.
With its re-poll demand bunked, MPP has written to the ECI as well as to the Chief Electoral Officer to exclude polling stations��7/9, 7/13, 7/14, 7/15, 7/30, 7/31, 7/32, 7/33, 7/34, 7/35 and 7/36 of Andro A/C from counting.