The Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur has called for reports from Deputy Commissioners of three districts in the State over alleged rigging of booths while holding election to the Outer Manipur lok Sabha constituency on Wednesday.
CEO Oinam Nabakishore on Thursday asked the Deputy Commissioners of Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati districts to inquire over the allegations of large-scale rigging in some of the polling booths in the districts while holding the election on Wednesday.
The CEO’s reaction came after the Manipur unit of the BJP lodged a complaint with the CEO saying that members of the ceasefire militant outfit NSCN (IM) have rigged at least 42 polling booths in Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati on Wednesday.
“We have received a complaint from the BJP candidate, who had contested the polls on Wednesday saying that the NSCN (IM) members have resorted to booth capturing and rigging in at least 42 polling stations in the three districts,” said Nabakishore while talking to The Pioneer on Thursday.
“I have asked the three Deputy Commissioners to inquire into the allegations and submit their reports in this regard. The DCs are expected to meet the Presiding Officers and Returning Officers engaged in those polling booths, where rigging have been alleged and are likely to submit the report after consulting with them,” the CEO said.
“We are going to wait till reports from the DCs arrive,” he said, adding that the matter will forwarded to the Election Commission of India after the reports come.It may be mentioned here that the election to the Outer Manipur lok Sabha constituency on Wednesday recorded over 82 per cent of polling.
A total of 10 candidates are contesting the polls which includes three Independents, Gangmumei Kamei of the BJP, Thangso Baite of the Congress, Kim Gangte of the Trinamool Congress, Soso lorho of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) etc.Manipur BJP president Th Chaoba, however, said the NSCN (IM) members have captured as many as 57 booths and prevented people from exercising their democratic right. “The State Government’s failure to ensure security for the polls seems to be a deliberate ploy by the Government to neutralise BJP’s popularity in the State,” said Gangmumei Kamei.