Polling over, but election drama continues

Imphal, April 28 : Despite both the phases of the 15th Lok Sabha elections having had come to an end in Manipur, there just seem to be no end to the election drama in the State with the Left Front, the BJP and the Manipur People's Party (MPP) alleging the Congress of having manipulated, used proxy and impersonation in the second phase voting in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency on April 22 .

Interestingly, this 'storm' comes after reports of a 'historic' and 'peaceful' polling in the Inner Manipur constituency with no re-polling called.

The second phase polling saw about 70 percent of the 8.2 lakh voters in the Inner Manipur casting their votes to decide and seal the fate of one of the seven candidates.

Manipur has two seats in the Parliament , one each for the Outer (Hill area) and Inner (Valley area).

And reports termed it a peaceful election with no re-polling called or violence reported.

However, the Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur, the BJP and the MPP alleged the Congress of foul play during the elections with proxy, booth capturing and impersonation.

The Left Front and the MPP is currently on strike demanding re-polling in 16 (sixteen) polling stations in Thoubal and Andro Assembly Constituencies (A/Cs).

As per reports, the BJP on April 23, a day after the elections alleged Bijoy Koijam, Congress member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Thongju Assembly Constituency along with his security escort manhandled its worker on the day of the election and demanded necessary action under section 134 (b) of the Representation of Peoples' Act, 1951, Section 307 and 34 IPC.

On the other hand, the MLA retaliated asserting the BJP worker, identified as Gyaneshwor, had tried to booth capture the Sarda L.P.School polling station.

The MPP also alleged the security status of Andro polling stations was changed in the eleventh hour to facilitate rigging in favour of the Congress.

Reports had it, Th.

Chaoba, the MPP candidate, addressing the media alleged the deployment of the Central police forces at 7-Andro A/Cwas withdrawn at the last minute and replaced by the unarmed Village Defence Force (VDF) volunteers to ensure rigging at the polling stations.

The party also demanded re-polling.

This was interestingly countered by the Director General of Police (DGP), Y.Joykumar Singh, clarifying no last minute changes were made in any security deployment.

However, this clarification did not seem to go well with the Oppositions who further demanded re-polling in sixteen polling stations.

Joining the allegations against the Congress, Dr.

.MNara, candidate of the CPI, Manipur for the Inner Manipur constituency Friday demanded re-polling in sixteen polling stations of the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency alleging the Congress has committed widespread proxy voting by overpowering the polling personnel.

According to reports, addressing a press conference at the CPI office, Irawat Bhavan in Imphal on April 24, Dr.

Nara alleged Ningombam Brojen, the brother-in-law of O.Lhandoni, w/o chief minister Ibobi Singh had proxy and cast votes at the Thoubal Assembly Constituency, the Constituency of the Chief Minister, polling station Nos.31/20, 21, and 22 many a times and that Congress workers captured the booths.

And amidst strong demands for re-polling in certain polling stations, reports had it the State polling authorities are in no position to conduct re-polling till there was a concrete proof of proxy voting.

Meanwhile, leaders of the MPP left for New Delhi to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) and demand re-polling.

It may be reminded here that the MPP had also lodged a complaint with the ECI on the allegations against the Congress and demanded re-polling.

And with just over two weeks left for the overall counting and results on May 16, only time could perhaps tell the outcome of the situation and the political fiasco of the elections in Manipur.