Manipur parties protest over alleged proxy voting

Imphal | April 26: The Left front and Democratic co-ordination committee of Manipur formed jointly by the All India Forward Block (AIFB), Rashtrya Samata Party (RSP), Janata Dal (I), the CPI and CPI (M) Saturday protested and demanded re-polling in 16 (sixteen) polling stations of Thoubal and Andro assembly constituencies in Manipur alleging the Congress had manipulated the voting in these polling stations during the second phase polling in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.

Over hundreds gathered at the Raising Athletic Union (RAU) ground in Imphal East and demanded the chief electoral officer (CEO), Manipur to conduct re-polling in the sixteen polling stations for a free and fair election.

Two major political parties of the state, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and the CPI, on April 22, the day of voting for Inner Manipur constituency, had alleged the Congress had manipulated voting, including proxy and impersonation, in many a polling stations of Thoubal district. In this regard, the two parties had demanded for re-polling in the sixteen polling stations. The CPI had also declared it would go on a protest from Saturday demanding re-polling.

The CPI had decided to organise the protest at the Keishampat traffic junction in Imphal West with the permission of the concern deputy commission. However, in what could be termed a blow to the plan to organise the protest in the district, the Imphal West district magistrate, A. Ibocha Singh order section 144 Cr.
PC of the Code of Criminal procedure citing police reports of the likelihood of peace being breach and public tranquillity being disturbed in the Imphal West district from 10:00 a.m. Saturday until further notice.

As such, the venue of the protest was shifted to the RAU ground in Imphal East district. During the protest, CPI state secretary, L. Iboyaima asserted the committee would not quit pressuring for re-polls in the sixteen polling stations especially in Thoubal, Andro and Khundrakpam 1/21. The Left Front leaders at the centre are also pressuring the chief election commission of India regarding the proxy voting, he informed.
CPI candidate Dr. M. Nara and CPI (M) executive member Kh. Santa will leave for the Capital tomorrow to inform on fake voting in Manipur and pressurise re-polling, the secretary of the CPI informed. The CPI will not be silent on this matter and will even resort to judicial moves to shelter the matter, Iboyaima added. Also condemning the act of the Congress, L. Sotinkumar, CPI agent expressed shock over the voting getting over at 8:30 a.m. in some polling stations of Andro with over 90 percent polling records.

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