Imphal, April 24 2009: Alleging that the ruling Congress party forced people to vote in favour of their candidate for the Inner Lok Sabha seat in some polling stations of Andro and Thoubal Assembly constituencies, the Left and Democratic Coordination Committee has filed a complaint to the Election Commission of India today.

Moreover protest demonstrations have been planned tomorrow against the violation of election rules by Congress.

Briefing media persons at Irabot Bhavan here today, Left and Democratic Coordination Committee/ CPI candidate Dr Moirangthem Nara asserted that BSF personnel were supposed to be on duty at polling stations 7/9, 7/10, 7/13, 7/14, 7/30, 7/31, 7/32, 7/33.7/34, 7/35 and 7/36 under Andro AC.

But another order issued just two days before the poll replaced BSF personnel with IRB/MR personnel.

These polling stations were among the polling stations declared hyper-sensitive.

As a complaint was being filed to the Election Commission challenging the official order issued fraudulently, the hyper-sensitive polling stations were suddenly made normal just one day ahead of the poll.

Subsequently, personnel of Village Defence Force were deployed at these polling stations.

With this crafty arrangement, some hired supporters of Congress completed all the voting in 11 polling stations at 8.30 am of the polling day (April 22) when very few people had come out to exercise their franchise, alleged Dr Nara.

He also asked if there was any reason not to take up necessary actions against the Presiding Officers who failed in their duties.

Further within Thoubal A/C, the home constituency of Chief Minister O Ibobi, at polling stations 31/20, 31/21 and 31/22 polling stations of Ningombam Girls' LP School, Okram Hanjaba (A), (B) and (C), one Brojen, a relative of the Chief Minister's wife, together with some Congress workers overpowered polling personnel and cast proxy votes repeatedly, Dr Nara alleged adding that no agents of other parties were allowed in these polling stations.

Asserting that Brojen was allowed to moved in and around polling stations with security escorts even though he is a Government employee, the CPI candidate asked whether he was any authority for the Lok Sabha elections.

In this regard a complaint has been filed to the Election Commission seeking repoll in the three polling stations of Thoubal A/C as well as to terminate Brojen from his job, Dr Nara conveyed.

He also decried the indulgence of Ministers and MLAs in malpractices at the time of elections.

Against the malpractices and violation of election rules in 14 polling stations under Andro A/C and Thoubal A/C, and demanding repoll in these stations, a protest demonstration would be staged tomorrow under the aegis of the Left and Democratic Coordination Committee, constituted by five parties.

Dr Nara also conveyed gratitude to the people for exercising their franchise.

Comment