Imphal, January 31, 2012: The Election Commission of india has ordered repoll/fresh poll in 34 polling stations which would be conducted on February 4 from 7 am to 3 pm.The ECI decision was conveyed to newspersons this evening at the Old Secretariat conference hall by State Chief Electoral Officer, PC Lawmkunga, who also proclaimed that activists of the Naga rebel outfit NSCN (IM) interfered in the election process.
Interference of the NSCN (IM), which is currently in a ceasefire pact with the Government of India, at the recently conducted state election has been illustrated by the violent incident at Tampi polling station, mentioned the CEO who also informed that the Union home Ministry has approved deployment of 93 companies of Central para-military force personnel for the repolling on February 4. Announcing that all the polling stations for the repoll have been categorised as hyper sensitive he said two sections each of the para-military force personnel would man each of the polling stations.
While stating that the polling percentage of 79.35 is comparatively lower than the previous election held in 2007, Lawmkunga opined that the low turn out might be due to stringent measures adopted by the ECI to check electoral malpractices and the time consumed in taking the photos of the voters.
Responding to a query, he conveyed that inspite of various complaints from different political organisations repolling is being conducted at the 34 polling station on the basis of report or recommendation by the election returning officers concerned.
As already reported, repolling would be conducted in cases of capture or destroying of the electronic voting machines, or failure to proceed with the democratic process in conformity with prescribed norms laid down by the ECI.
To another poser, the CEO contended that certain security lapses is one of the factors for the incident at Tampi polling station in Chandel district.
Verification process with regard to photos of voters captured at the polling stations and those enlisted in the electoral roll is underway, he informed.
In the meantime, information has been received that on account of alleged negligence of duty in the just conducted State election, a Manipur Civil Service (MCS) officer has been placed under suspension.
An order of the Department of Personnel identified the suspended MCS officer as SDO/ARO Purul namely P Nabachandra, who would be replaced by AC to ADC, Kangpokpi S Rajendra Singh (MCS).
with the said 34 polling stations scattered in the five hill districts of Manipur, Chingai AC in Ukhrul district will witness maximum number of repolling at nine polling stations, while Mao, Tamei, Nungba and Henglep located respectively in Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts will go for repolling in only one polling station each.
Chingai AC is being contested by MK Preshow of the indian National Congress, Independent candidate Khashim Ruivah, NK shimray of All India Trinamool Congress and Naga People's Front nominee Paul Muinao.
With INC nominee Francis Ngajokpa, K Raina of NPF and Athikho Solomon Enah of Trinamool Congress in the fray, Tadubi AC in Senapati district is the second highest in terms of number of polling stations where repolling would be held.
As speculated, Tampi polling station under Chandel AC in chandel district also figures among the repolling list.
Including the presiding officer, seven persons were killed when a fire-fight broke out between CRPF personnel manning the polling station and suspected cadres of NSCN (IM) on the day of polling.
The polling stations where repolling has been ordered include 41/23 Modi, 41/27 Unupat, 41/31 Larong and 41/40 Tampi in chandel AC; 42/8 Khunbi Khunou, 42/50 Moreh D, 42/58 Moreh H and 42/60 Moreh I (Part-IA) in Tengnoupal AC; 45/41 Tora, 45/44 Somdal A-I, 45/45 Somdal A-II, 45/46 Somdal B, 45/49 Tuinem A-1, 45/50 Tuinem A-II,45/54 Ringui, 45/56 Ngaimu A and 45/57 Ngaimu B under Chingai AC; 48/22 Makhel of Mao AC; 49/15 Mao Pungdung (A), 49/16 Mao Pungdung (B), 49/17 Chawainamai Khullen (A), 49/18 Chawainamai Khullen (B), 49/19 Chawainamai Khunou, 49/21 Makhan Centre (A) and 49/22 Makhan Centre (B) of Tadubi AC; 52/41 Azuram in Tamei AC; 53/3 Sonram (Sonpram) and 53/22 Duigailong in Tamenglong AC;54/9 Chakanlong (Tupul) in Nungba AC; 55/01 Chingmun and 55/29 Senvon (B) under Tipaimukh AC; 56/03 Savaipaih and 56/08 Phaipheng of Thanlon AC; and 57/36 Phuoljang in Henglep AC.
~The Sangai Express
