IMPHAL, Feb 16 (Newmai News Network): Against the backdrop of charges from different political parties that the Election Commission of India has done nothing on the issue of proxy voting, the latter has given instruction to the State Chief Election Officer (CEO) to get prepared for re-poll in maximum constituencies that have been under intense pressure over mass poll violation during the January 28 Manipur elections, an official source said here Thursday.
A photo comparison task using computer software for facial recognition to determine proxy voting or double-voting is now undergoing under the supervision of Manipur CEO Lawmkunga and the same work will be completed by February 20, the source said.
The CEO will have a video-conference with ECI on February 21 after completion of the facial determination process, the source added.
Also today, a video-conference was held between the ECI officials and the state CEO during which the former raised questions on the reliability of the facial recognition software, the source added.
A team of top ECI officials, including Alok Shukla, Anus Jaipuria and the three observers who conducted photo comparison work here a few days ago will be coming to Imphal on February 22 and later the team will firmly persuade the leaders of all the political parties which were in the fray regarding how the photo comparison work was carried out, the source added.
It said the ECI will declare the re-poll date through the state CEO on February 23, adding that the re-poll is likely to be conducted on March 1 or 2.
The official source added, the CEO has so far entertained 283 complaints lodged from across the state over rigged-polling in various booths of different constituencies.
However, the BJP, NCP and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) whose stakes are high in the recent polls, have been insisting that their bottom line is not to go on re-poll but invalidate all the rigged-votes in the counting of votes which is scheduled to take place on March 6.