Dr M Nara sticks to proxy voting stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2014 : Sticking to his contention that Congress party workers indulged in widespread rigging of vote during the recently conducted Lok Sabha election for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Left and Secular Alliance candidate Dr M Nara said a reminder has been sent to the election Commission of India (ECI) not to include votes polled in 112 polling stations in the counting process.

Demanding that the ECI declare as null and void votes cast in 113 polling stations, Dr Nara reiterated that 90 percent and above votes cast in many of the polling stations is a clear indication of proxy voting by the ruling Congress party.

Claiming that a fact finding committee specifically constituted to probe proxy voting has identified 29 polling stations in Thoubal assembly constituency, 10 each in Nambol and Wangkhem ACs, 12 in Andro AC, eight in Lilong Ac and two in Patsoi AC wherein Congress workers rigged the polling process, he said reminder of his earlier conveyance to the ECI on the same issue was sent yesterday.

Pointing out that the said polling stations recorded 90 percent and above polling, the veteran CPI leader alleged that Congress workers cast votes for deceased persons, voters working/studying outside the State as well as in place of voters who did not turn up to exercise their franchise right.

Urging the ECI to exclude 112 polling stations from the counting process scheduled for May 16, Dr Nara also explained to media persons at Irawat Bhawan today that ruling party workers indulging in proxy voting is a serious violation of ECI provisions.

While CPI and LSA election campaigns centred on healthy turn-out of voters the Congress party seemingly abstained from such approach for the latter had ulterior motive to capitalise on voters' absence, Dr Nara opined claiming that the general public are witness to the Congress party distributing Rs 50 to Rs 500 to lure the voters.

For every assembly segment the Congress party also provided Rs 20 lakh each to buy vote, alleged the CPI leader highlighting that total of Rs 7 crore spent by the ruling Congress in the Parliamentary elections testify abuse of power and violation of prescribed norms of ECI that fixed the poll expenditure ceiling to Rs 75 lakh for an individual candidate.

With the Congress spending far above the ECI limit it is reasonable to demand disqualification of the Congress candidate, he said.

While cent percent voting might be possible in the rarest of rare cases number of votes polled exceeding the total number of voters in a particular polling station merits minute revision by the ECI and ensure that those responsible for undermining the democratic process are put behind bars, demanded Dr Nara with apparent reference to re-polling ordered at some polling stations in Thoubal AC, which the Chief Minister represents in the Manipur Legislation Assembly.

Dr Nara also exuded confidence that he would represent the people of Manipur in the Parliament.

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