Repoll at more polling stations demanded
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 22 2024:
RPI(Athawale) candidate Thounaojam Maheshwar has demanded repoll at many other polling stations other than the ones which went to repoll today.
Maheshwar said that the polling held on April 19 in Inner Manipur PC for the 18th Lok Sabha election was neither free nor fair.
He said that the ruling party resorted to rampant malpractices and proxy voting.
In addition to the 11 polling stations which went to repoll today, there are many other polling stations where repoll must be held, he asserted.
Saying that RPI(Athawale) has lodged a complaint with the ECI to hold repoll at many other polling stations, he exuded confidence that the ECI would come out with a notification for repoll at many polling stations.
Repoll would not have been necessary if tight security arrangements as done today during the repoll were put in place on April 19, he rued.
Congress candidate Dr Bimol Akoijam too asserted that the repoll would not have been necessary had the polling been held strictly according to rules.
Dr Bimol Akoijam visited the polling stations which went to repoll today.
The violence and rampant malpractices witnessed during voting on April 19 portrayed Manipur in a very light to the outside world, he said.
"We strongly believe that the ECI would order repoll at some other polling stations too", he said.
"We are also considering seeking legal help on the question of holding repoll at the polling stations identified by Congress party and INDIA Bloc Manipur", he added.