Dr Bimol sure of victory, downplays violence
Cong flays Govt for failing to protect citizens' right to vote
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 19 2024: INC candidate for Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has expressed firm belief that he would win the election despite attempts made by some to tamper with the people's verdict.

Addressing newspersons after casting his vote at Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School, Keishamthong on Friday, Dr Bimol said that the people have a different feeling about the election this time.

As such, it would be worthy to see the response of the people against those lying and causing disruption during the polls.

He continued that preventing the people from peacefully casting their votes is a violation of their constitutional right.

Noting that people cast their votes with all seriousness on Friday, he called the masses' general sentiment as the first step towards a new and changed Manipur along with expressing delight that the people reacted with maturity to misrule by the incumbent government.

Meanwhile, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president Kh Devabrata has strongly condemned the lack of action on part of any government machinery in preventing some groups of people from barging into polling booths in an attempt to intimidate the electors to cast their votes in favour of candidate fielded by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan, here, on Friday, Devabrata said that soon after the polling for the Inner Manipur seat commenced on Friday, many of the vulnerable polling booths were swarmed by unidentified armed groups.

These groups along with the polling officers on duty tried to dictate terms to the voters in favour of the BJP candidate, which is highly condemnable.

Informing that the Congress had filed all necessary complaints to the relevant departments/authorities in this regard, the working president mentioned about the video circulating on social media platforms in which INC candidate Dr Bimol Akoijam is seen seeking explanation from a lady IPS officer following forced removal of the Election agent of INC from the polling booth.

Seeing how unauthorised individuals were seen entering polling stations illegally and intimidating the people into casting their votes in favour of the BJP's candidate, it is clear that none of the government machineries strived to ensure the election was conducted in a free and fair manner, Devabrata contended.

Although Dr Bimol had no grassroots association with the Congress the party, he came forward to do something for his motherland.

As such, none of the officers working with the government and involved in Friday's chaos will be let off lightly, the working president cautioned, while informing that legal action would be initiated against them.

Devabrata then urged the masses to forward all videos related to Friday's chaotic election process to Congress, adding that the same along with all wrongdoings committed by the government will be exposed in front of the relevant authorities before the results are declared.

Kh Devbrata also strongly condemned the acts of armed unidentified men entering polling stations and intimidating voters and indulging in proxy voting.

"We haven't seen the government try to conduct the polling peacefully in a free and fair manner," he said.

Girish Chodankar, the election in-charge of Manipur and Nagaland for AICC, wrote on X that violence and booth capturing by armed miscreants have been witnessed in several places despite a written submission to Chief Electoral Officer of "possible tension".

"They allowed frustrated BJP supporters to forcibly capture booths and prevent common people from exercising their voting rights, making a mockery of the elections.

We have demanded re-polling in such booths," he added.

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