CPI demands repoll at 28 Polling Stations
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 19 2019: CPI has lodged a complaint to the Returning Officer of Inner Manipur PC to hold repoll at 28 polling stations of four Assembly Constituencies.

Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan here today, CPI candidate Dr M Nara said that they have lodged a complaint to the RO seeking repoll at 13 polling stations of Andro AC, 11 polling stations of Heingang AC, three polling stations of Keirao AC and one polling station of Thongju AC.

He said that large scale proxy voting, impersonation, booth capturing and even vandalisation of EVMs were seen at the 28 polling stations during the voting for Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat yesterday.

The complaint lodged to the RO was attached with video clips and relevant documents.

Congress party too has lodged a similar complaint, Dr Nara said.

Generally, voter turnouts are low in Parliamentary elections in most parts of the country but the poll percentage in Heingang AC was 91.13 while it was over 80 per cent in Andro AC and Thongju AC, he noted.

High voter turnout means large number of votes were polled but a question arises as to how such a large number of votes were polled, Dr Nara said.

CPI demands repoll at 28 Polling Stations

"Our complaints are not about showing oneupmanship but it is a question of whether the ruling parties uphold the principles of democracy and abide by the election code of conduct', Dr Nara continued.

However, the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs resorted to unethical and illegal practices either directly or indirectly, he asserted.

Such illegal and unethical practices must be rectified because such practices give undue troubles to public and forfeit people's faith in politicians, Dr Nara said.

He went on to ask, "Can a Minister say I would do whatever I wish ? It was a criminal act and if such criminal acts are repeated again and again, there would be conflict among the masses and the whole society would be become restive".

People should be allowed to vote freely for the candidates of their choice, he asserted.

"If the Ministers do not intend to rectify wrongdoings, then where is their sense of being public leaders?, Dr Nara asked.

A complaint was lodged seeking repoll at the 28 polling stations in National interest for the end of justice.

The issue involves the collective interest of all the people of Manipur and it is not restricted to Heingang AC or Andro AC alone, he said.

During the poll scrutiny which was held today starting from 11 am, CPI convinced the ECI's General Observer, the RO and EROs, he conveyed.

After accepting that there were clear cases of malpractices and manipulation, the election officials informed a CPI team that a report for repoll would be sent to the ECI this evening, according to Dr Nara.

He then exuded confidence that ECI would do justice to their complaint.