Kpi rallies to demand re-poll
Source: The Sangai Express

Kpi, November 09 2020: Ahead of the vote count for 51-Saitu AC by-election tomorrow, hundreds of Congress supporters mostly youth held a peaceful rally demanding immediate re-poll at various polling stations at Saitu AC today.

The protesters held giant banners inscribed with the words, "We want immediate re-poll", "Biren Govt+KNO/KRA+KNO/KNA+KNO/USRA Vs one Little Boy", etc.

apart from placards which read, "Our electoral rights at stake", "Our future at stake", "Shame on BJP led Govt", "Shame on SoO groups", "We oppose threats, am I next?", "We oppose gun politics", "Gun politics lead to hell", "Stop booth capturing", "Puppet Returning Officer", etc.

during the rally organized by Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee.

The rally began from Brigadier M Thomas Ground and marched till DC office gate raising slogans such as, "We want immediate re-poll", "BJP Govt-down, down", "Returning Officer-Down, Down", "Assam Rifles-bodyguard of UGs", "Commandos-bodyguard of UGs", etc.

Inside the DEO/DC office chamber, the INC candidate accompanied by his chief agent and general secretary including other supporters met the Returning Officer and produced a video clip of the Returning Officer receiving the INC complaint letter submitted yesterday to the media but the RO asserted that he is not aware of it.

The RO said "as per the guidelines I have verified the registered voters, accounts of votes, presiding officer's diary and any other complaints received from the sector officers and I have already recommended no re-poll.

It is now upto the Election Commission to decide what to do" .

However, the INC candidate refuted the presiding officer's report by producing the voters slips of the INC supporters who were denied their franchise rights on polling day and "as instructed by the Returning Officer we submitted written complaints which he received yesterday but is blatantly denying today," and showed a video clip of the presiding officer receiving the written complaint letter.

Speaking to media persons within the campus of DEO/DC office after meeting the Returning Officer, INC candidate Lamtinthang Haokip said the Returning Officer, 51 -Saitu (ST) AC, Subinson Sapam, "rejected my submission forfeiting his Constitutional duties and responsibilities as a public servant".

He continued that the RO acted like he was scared that all the video footages on the polling day will certainly reveal all the unconstitutional and undemocratic activities inside the polling stations/booths such as selecting only some voters under the instruction of KNO/KRA, KNO/KNA, KNO/USRA to enter the polling booths to exercise their rights.

"We are against the scheduled vote count tomorrow until the video footages in all the polling booths are provided to us and if the vote count is still not rescheduled and re-poll held as demanded we will take legal action and law will take its own course of action", asserted the INC candidate while cautioning "we will not spare anyone including the Government indulging in the unconstitutional and undemocratic act in the by-election".

He also said that Election Commission of India must act immediately and take cognizance of the matter seriously and take immediate action against the BJP candidate and his cohorts while adding that the Returning Officer of 51-Saitu (ST) AC must be terminated immediately for acting on behalf of the BJP candidate and BJP Government of Manipur.

The INC candidate also appealed the people of Manipur and all the right thinking citizens and people of Saitu AC in particular to strongly condemn such unconstitutional and undemocratic electoral process.

Meanwhile, Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president, Mahananda Nungleppam said that the recently concluded by-election is not election but 'selection' as restricting or denying voters the right to exercise their franchise rights by using muscle and money power is not democracy.

The style and functioning of the BJP Government is no less than dictatorship, he asserted while adding that the way the Returning Officer behaved and acted is clear evidence.

"I appeal the Election Commission of India, Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur and District Electoral Officer of Kangpokpi to re-schedule the proposed vote count tomorrow to find out the facts on how the poll was conducted in the by-election in Manipur and take necessary action by holding re-poll in the larger interest of democracy and the rights of the people," he added.

The INC candidate and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee demand for re-poll in various polling stations includes 51/3 Mayangkhang Khunou, 51/4 Mayangkhang (B), 51/5 Tumuyon Khullen (A), 51/6 Tumuyon Khullen (B), 51/33 Leilon Vaiphei, 51/37 Leimakhong, 51/47 Khoripok, 51/50 Khoken, 51/52 Kharam Pallel and 51/53 Tingkai Khullen.

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