IMPHAL, Jan 21: As per the directive from the Election Commission of India, the state chief electoral officer has today issued a formal election notification in connection with the bye-election of Konthoujam assembly constituency which has already been fixed on February 14.
According to the information received from the state chief electoral officer, the official notification for the proposed bye-election of Konthoujam A/C has been issued in pursuance of Section 31 of the Representative of the People Act, 1951, read with Rules 3 of the conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 and in pursuance of notification of No. 4/ELE/BYE/-KJM/2011 dated January, 12 hereby given that, a bye-election is to be held for a member to the Manipur Legislative Assembly in 18-Konthoujam A/C.
The official election notification issued by the state, CEO in connection with the bye-election said that, nomination papers may be delivered by a candidate or by any his/her proposer to the Returning Officer or to the Sub-Deputy Collector/Assistant Returning Officer of 18-Konthoujam A/C at the office of the SDO, Patsoi attached to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West, Lamphelpat, between 11 am and 3 pm on any day other than public holiday not later than the January 28 this month.
The official notification also further mentioned that, nomination papers will be taken up for scrutiny at the office of the SDO (Patsoi)/RO of the said Assembly Constituency attached to the office of the DC, Imphal West, Lamphelpat on January 29 at 11.am.
It is also further mentioned that, notice of withdrawal of the candidature may be delivered either by a candidate or by any of his/her proposer or by his/her election agent (who has been authorized in writing by the candidate to deliver it) to either of the officer specified.
The official notification further mentioned that, in the event of the election being contested, the poll will be taken on February 14 next month starting from 7 am till 3 pm in the said constituency, the official notification directed.
In the meantime, in view of the proposed Bye-election to the 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency and in 28 polling stations a general coordinating meeting was convened on Januray19 chaired by the state CEO Lwamkunga IAS at the Manipur Secretariat South Block conference hall and discussed various issues related to the deployment of security and monitoring of the election code of conduct and also discussed for the deployment of Central Paramilitary and Civil police to both Sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations of constituency during the bye-election into the said constituency. Besides, there will be heavy deployment of security forces from both state and central Para military forces on the eve of the poll on February 14 in all 28 poling stations and Electronic Voting Machines EVMs will also be utilized in all polling stations.
It may also be mentioned that, Election Commission of India, has officially fixed the date of poll to the bye-election to the Konthoujam A/C on February 14 for which last date of nomination is on January 28 this month, scrutiny of nominations will be done on January 29, last date of withdrawal of candidatures will be on January, 31 this month and counting of votes will be done on February 17 next month. On the other hand, the Konthoujam A/C is having total of 24890 voters including 12,163 male and 12,727 female voters.
In the meantime, so far three aspirant candidates including son of late Dr. Sapam Budhichandra former sitting MLA, Dr Sapam Ranjan, Konthoujan Sharat Singh and Khangembam Ranjit of Khumbong are on active election campaigns into the constituency.
A release of the JDU mentioned that with the nearing of the election to the bye-election to the Konthoujam A/C the Working Committee meeting of the JD (U) was convened today chaired by M Tombi Singh, president JDU which further decided not to send out their candidate to contest the ensuing Konthoujam A/C bye-election and it was also decided that the party will support any contesting candidate send out by like minded political parties.
On the other hand, according to a release of the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress, the party has completed its preparations to go along with like minded political parties in order to defeat the Congress led SPF government in the state.
It further mentioned that, the party is already set to announced its candidate to contest the ensuing bye-election to the Konthoujam AC within two days.
The release further mentioned that even though the Trinamool Congress is enjoying an alliance with the congress party in the central UPF government, there is nothing to share with the congress party in the state which has been rigorously encouraging different forms of anti people activities.
It also mentioned that, it was very unfortunate that the people of the state have been surviving without any mercy from the congress led SPF government and that the state government has never considered providing basic amenity in terms of regular supply of PDS items to the people till today. The party further charged the congress led government for encouraging the armed struggle in the state by giving more power to the armed security forces rather than thinking of peaceful solutions for restoring peace and harmony through political dialogues with the existing insurgent groups in the state.
Considering all these facts that the Ibobi government have failed to maintained in the state, the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress has decided to send out its candidate to contest the ensuing bye-election to the Konthoujam A/C and has further considered sending many more candidate to the general election of the state which is likely to held during February 2012, the release added.
