Peaceful 70.48% polling
MPP, CPI demand re-poll at 13 polling stations
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 22 2009: THE POLLING in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency passed off peacefully with an estimated 70.48% overall turn out of voters.

Meanwhile, MPP and CPI have lodged complaints with the Election Commission of India to conduct re-poll in at least 13 polling stations.

An estimated 70.48 percent of 8.02 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections for the Inner Manipur constituency.

The voting percentage was low in the first hour of polling owing to bad weather condition.

But voters turned out in large number in the afternoon with the weather condition improving.

No major untoward incident was reported from any part of the valley during the polls which began at 7 am and ended at 4 pm.

But CPI and MPP have lodged complaint for re-polling to at least 13 polling stations across the constituency alleging malpractices during the polling.

With regard to the complaint lodged by the two political parties, ECI has called a special meeting to consider the steps which could be taken up in accordance with the complaint.

State CEO, ROs and assistant ROs of the concern polling stations where complaints were put up have been asked to attend the meeting with video clippings of the poll process.

The meeting with the ECI officials may be teleconference one.

But this could not be immediately confirmed.

Enthusiastic smiling girls display their PICs while waiting for their turn to cast vote at Th Chaoba's home polling Utlou

In its complaint CPI is alleging that a group of Congress workers led by one Ningombam Gojen, brother of the Chief Minister O Ibobi's wife Landoni, MLA of Khangabok A/C has allegedly casted votes repeated at 31/22 polling station of the Thoubal A/C.The complaint was put up by CPI worker L Sotinkumar.

The complaint note further added that a mobile handset of a reporter who took video clipping of the malpractice through his handset was snatched by Gojen and other workers.

But the name of the reporter was not mention in the compliant note.

Other complaints were related with the incidents occurred at 11 polling stations in Andro Assembly constituency where CPI said real voters could not cast votes with an appeal to conduct re-poll.

The said poling stations were 7/9, 7/14, 7/15, 7/30, 7/31, 7/32, 7/33, 7/34, 7/35 amd 7/36. CPI further alleged that mass proxy have been conducted at 19/1 by the workers of MPP, at 1/21, polling station at Uyumpok Khunou Primary School by the Congress workers.

On the other MPP lodged complaint to the ECI to protect the seal EVMs at DC office in Bishnupur district by Central Paramilitary forces.

In the complaint lodged by MPP candidate Th Chaoba further urged the election authorities not to allow entering of election officials including the RO of the district to the strong room, where EVMs are keeping.

He further urged the ECI to allow lock with keypad to the strong by the candidates.

As per the preliminary report, highest turn out of voters recorded at the three Assembly segments of Thoubal district with 79.62 percent while Imphal east with approximate 63.70 percent recorded lowest turn out of electors, Imphal west recorded 70.59% and 70 % in Bishnupur district.

In Thangmeiband area owing to the boycott called by the JAC formed in connection with the murder of SDO, Dr Kishan and his two co-staffs, voters turned out at low rate.

Polling went on peacefully as no untoward incidents to disturb the polling process occurred during the poll hours even attacks to Congressmen houses were reported last night ahead of the polling.

Miscreants suspected to be PULF militants fired some rounds of guns to the house of the Congress leader, former Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Md Maniruddin Sheikh located at Lilong last night at around 9.30 apparently in connection with threats to the congress men.

No human casualty reported in the firing but caused damaged to a car parked at the front courtyard of the former spekaer's residential situated with the Lilong Assembly constituency of Thoubal district included in the Inner constituency of the Lok Sabha.

Long queues were not seen in the polling stations but people staying in groups to polling camps opened by the political parties were seen during the polling in various places in Imphal east and west districts.

Interesting most of the people gathering nearby the polling stations were mostly women.

In some polling stations also only the women standing in queue waiting for their turn were seen.

A total of 36.58 percent of the 8,26,539 voters in the constituency casted votes till 1 pm, according to compiled report of the state chief election officer (CEO) office.

Upto the timing (1 pm) 32.7% voters casted votes in Imphal east, 30.6 % in Imphal west, 45% in Bishnupur district and 38% in Thoubal district.

The faiths of seven candidates have been kept seal and counting will be held on May 16 together to the two parliamentary seats from the state.

Former Union minister Th Chaoba of Manipur People's Party (MPP), sitting MP Th Meinya (Congress), former chief minister W Nipamacha (BJP), former minister M Nara (CPI), L Khetrani (RBCP), independent candidates A Rahman (Ex IGP) and N Homendro are in the fray in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.