Visages of candidates, supporters present contrasting expressions
CEO opens door for all to witness novel step Mismatches galore as photo comparisons tell revealing tales
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 12, 2012: Comparison of photographs of voters taken on polling day and their photographs affixed on Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) has found that a large number of photographs did not match at all, with aged women turning out to be maidens, women into men and vice versa.

For the first time in the electoral history of India, photographs of voters were taken on polling day during the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections held on January 28 and the subsequent re-poll held on February 4. With a view to check proxy voting and impersonation, the Election Commission of India came up with the novel idea of taking photographs of voters but it appears that there was gross dereliction on the part of polling officials.

The ECI has already notified that re-poll would be held in polling stations where the photographs taken on polling day do not match with the EPIC photographs.

After landing at Imphal today, ECI-appointed observers Sunil Gupta, DK Pandey and Gaurav Dwivedi directly oversaw the photo comparison work in the office room of the Chief Electoral Officer at Lamphelpat.

The photo comparison work was also attended by candidates, their agents and complainants.

When one special observer took part in the photo comparison work being done by Returning Officers in one room, the other two officers watched live video of the same work in another room together with candidates, agents and complainants.

At the very start of the photo comparison work, candidates and agents observed that photographs of many voters did not match with the photographs affixed on their EPICs.

Observers of photo comparison process having a close look at each frame

At this, they asked as to whom they would lodge complaints or should simply remain seated there.

The outcry subsided only when the CEO came out and told them that they might note down the mismatches and incompati- bilities.

Clarifying that the ongoing process was not a hearing, the CEO asked the candidates, agents and complainants to be witnesses of the malpractices and cooperate with the process of identifying the 'lapses'.

Moreover, 35 complaints lodged by political parties, candidates and agents in connection with the polling held on January 28 were studied and compared in presence of the special observers.

The Assembly Constituencies from which the complaints were received included Chandel, Saikul, Karong, Saikot, Churachandpur, Thanlon, Tamei, Nungba, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Wabagai, Andro and Keirao.

During photo comparison for Karong, Chandel and Saikul ACs today, women were found casting votes while the photographs affixed on their EPICs were of men and vice versa.

There were also many cases where young girls were shown casting votes against EPIC photographs which showed aged women.

Observing the goof-up, some candidates were found smiling while others wore worried looks.

There were some cases which appeared that votes of certain candidates were cast by others.

As the photo comparison work covered several polling stations, the case of mismatched photographs was found aplenty.

All the 35 complaints lodged with the Election Commission would be studied by tomorrow.

After this, reports submitted by Returning Officers of the remaining Assembly segments would be examined.

Talking to The Sangai Express on the photo comparison work, CEO P Lawmkunga said that the team of special observers sent by the ECI was equivalent to a fact finding team.

They would note down the facts and realities of the ongoing process.

After completing the process tomorrow, the team would send a report of their own to the ECI and the Commission would take a final decision based on their report, informed the CEO.