NPF accuses ECI of partisanship...Toys with idea of moving Court against ECI
Source: The Sangai Express
Lucknow, February 13 2012:
Accusing the Election Commission of India of not entertaining its complaints on malpractices undulged in by the Congress in some polling stations in the hill districts of Manipur, the Naga People's Front (NPF) has threatened to move the competent Court if counting in such booths takes place.
The Nagaland-based party has also opposed the comparison of voters' photos against the EPIC photos to detect proxy voting conducted by the ECI at the office complex of the State CEO at Imphal on the ground that its complaints were not accepted.
The NPF fielded its candidates in 12 constituencies in the 60 member Manipur Legislative Assembly for which polls were held on January 28 while on February 4 repolling was held in 34 booths in five hill districts of Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Senapati.
Spelling out its grievances in detail, spokesperson of the State unit of NPF Somi Keishing today said that in Karong Assembly Constituency in Senapati district, all the EVMs coming from far-flung areas were placed at Purul village by supporters of Congress candidate for 48 hours.
The NPF also alleged that complaints filed by its candidates and which were received in time by the Returning Officers (ROs) concerned were not entertained when they are supposed to act as the right authority to receive complaints and act accordingly.
The ROs are very much part and parcel of the Election Commission, he added.
Elaborating, Somi said that in Tamenglong Assembly Constituency, the NPF candidate had filed his complaint to the RO on January 31 and it was duly received.
In Tadubi Constituency where NPF candidate had filed his complaint to the RO on January 29 for repoll in four booths but surprisingly though repoll was held in the said Constituency, it was not held at the mentioned four booths.
At Karong Assembly Constituency, the NPF candidate sought repoll in 21 booths but they were not incorporated in the list for comparing of voters' photos, the exercise for which was conducted under the supervision of the ECI-appointed three special observers at Imphal.
Stating that repoll was helt at Somdal and Ngaimu polling stations in Chingai Assembly Constituency in Ukhrul district on the sole reason that there were over 90 percent polling, the NPF questioned as to why repoll was not conducted at 13 other polling stations that recorded between 90 to 98 poll percent for which complaints had already been submitted on February 4 .
At Poi polling station in Chingai Assembly Constituency, there is proof of votes being cast against the names of 27 dead persons, Somi said.
"If necessary legal advice shall be sought from the competent Court," cautioned the NPF.
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