MPP cries foul over postal ballot, files complaint
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 11, 2012: Alleging that a large number of postal ballot papers, about 1000 in number, were fraudulently issued in the recently held election to the 10th Manipur State Assembly Election to the electorates of Wangkhem and Heirok Assembly Constituencies, MPP has filed a complaint to Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding cancellation of such postal ballot papers.

Addressing media persons, Dr Nimaichand Luwang, President, MPP, contended that the postal ballot papers were issued to employees working mostly in Police and Home Department who were not assigned any election duty.

The employees include VDFs, SPOs, Manipur Rifles personnel, IRB personnel, Home Guards and Police personnel.

He further charged that most of these employees had not applied for postal ballot papers in Form-12 and they have no knowledge about it.

So, they went to cast their votes only to found out that postal ballot papers have been issued against their names.

This clearly means that the applications forwarded by the officials of the Police Department carried forged the signatures of the employees.

It has also been found out that many of the said employees cast their votes on January 28 at their respective polling stations although postal ballots were also delivered to them through the post, Dr Nimaichand maintained.

He went on to point out that more than 400 postal ballot papers have been dispatched addressed to the SP Thoubal and Imphal; Commandant of Imphal, Chandel and Tamenglong; DSP Thoubal, CO Homeguard and DTO of Itanagar without mentioning the names of the electorates.

Since the names of the electorates have not been specified, the postal ballot papers are still lying at different offices where the ballot papers have been sent.

Dr Nimaichand suspected a conspiracy among some unscrupulous officials either in the Police Department or the District Election Office and demanded ECI to look into the matter and cancel all the postal ballot papers issued to the employees.

Nongmeikappam Sobhakiran, MPP candidate of Heirok A/C, who was also present during the press meet, pointed out that 300 SPOs stationed in Heirok were also issued postal ballot papers.

So, it will be more appropriate to cancel all the postal ballot papers issued fraudulently.

He also appealed to the authority concerned to take up appropriate actions against all the officials involved in issuing postal ballot papers on the sly.

Copies of the complaint filed by MPP to ECI have also been reportedly forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer, the District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Thoubal and the Returning Officer of both Wangkhem and Heirok Assembly Constituencies.

It has been reported that the Chief Electoral Officer, Imphal has directed the Returning Officer of Thoubal to furnish a report over the issue immediately.

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