Proxy voting reported in Sagolband, Churachandpur ACs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 28 2022: Tension erupted at Polling station 11/11, Takhellambam Leikai of Sagolband AC, which is also the home polling station of JD (U) candidate Dr Kh Loken, after a non-local not residing in the constituency was found to have voted as a proxy around 4.30 pm on Monday.

As the tension continued, police lathi-charged the agitators, prompting candidate N Loken to come forward and a brief verbal stand-off occurred between the candidate and the police.

However,, both sides calmed down and the situation was brought under control.

According to orie of the locals, the non-local who voted is not a resident of the locality.

When the people enquired, he revealedthat he is residing in Thangmeiband AC.

Meanwhile, according to the police, a team was dispatched after reports of the tense situation following a proxy voting.

As the voting period had also ended, people were herded out from the polling station up to a distance of 100 metres.

However, the situation worsened and some of the civilians kicked the security personnel on their back, leading to the baton-charging of crowd.

A case of bogus voting was also reported in Churachandpur district when a 28-year-old man found out that someone else had already cast the vote under his name.

Dennis Lallienzuol alleged impersonation and said the incident happened due to malpractice in the state's electoral process, and this was not the first such case of malpractice during the polls.

Soon after he came to know about the incident, Dennis took to micrpblogging site Twitter and posted a video questioning how the malpractice took place apart from lodging a complaint with the district deputy commissioner and the ECI over the malpractice.

While retweeting his post, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated: "Dennis Lallienzoul, a young resident of Churachandpur, went to the polling booth today to exercise his democratic right; only to find that his vote has already been cast! This not an isolated incident of malpractice" .

Dennis said that the reason why he is raising the issue is because such case has been so rampant and frequent in Manipur but no one reported.

"That's why I want this issue to come out this time because young people are so frustrated with incidents happening related to the ejection", said Dennis.

He further stated that there are many common people in the state who are not well versed with the electoral procedure.

"For example, there is an option of tender ballot/vote where you can cast your vote if someone else has already voted under your name but I was also not aware of the option", Dennis added.

Under the Election Commission rules, a voter is entitled to cast a 'tender vote' if he/she finds out someone else has already cast a vote in their name.

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