Ukhrul polling held amidst booth capturing complaints
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, June 01 2015 :
While the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous Council (MHAADC) Election 2015 was held peacefully with an average of 65 percent voters turn out in most constituencies of Ukhrul district, certain polling stations in western areas witnessed some contending candidates crying foul against incidents of alleged attempt at booth capturing by supproters of rival parties.
During the polling which began around 7 in the morning across the district, polling stations in Tongou, Sirarakhong under 15-Tonguo DCC, Phalee polling stations under 8-Somdal and Ngaimu polling stations under 6-Tolloi DCC fared fairly peaceful.
However, BJP and Independent candidates of 8-Somdal DCC have raised objection against alleged booth capturing by miscreants at Somdal polling stations under the constituency while polling agents belonging to INC, BJP and Independent candidates staged a walk out at Tuinem polling stations under 14-Tuinem DCC complaining booth capturing attempt by some people.
Subsequently, even as casting of votes continued during the day, BJP candidate A Sochipem and Independent candidate Mangang Raman of 8-Somdal DCC submitted a complaint petition each to the Returning Officer (RO) through the respective presiding officers calling for his intervention in the alleged booth capturing at the polling stations.
Workers of Independent candidate Raman have alleged that their polling agents were not allowed entry at the Somdal polling stations A, B and C by Somdal villagers, while BJP candidate Sochipem complained that some unknown persons controlled the polling booth in the name of his agents.
At the same time, polling agents belonging to BJP, INC and Independent candidates staged a walk out at Tuinem polling stations under 14-Tuinem DCC in the middle of casting votes in protest against the alleged attempt by a rival party to capture the booth.
Details pertaining to voter turn out percentage of different constituencies of the district could not obtained at the time of filing this report.