IMPHAL, February 13: The second day of voters photo matching also saw similar recurrence of irregularities as seen on the first day. Aside from the hill districts, Wabagai assembly constituency of Thoubal district witnessed clear signs of proxy voting being carried out during the photo comparison session conducted at the complex of Chief Election Office at Lamphelpat today.
The photo comparing exercise concluded in the evening and the reports culled by the three ECI observers have been sent to Delhi today and will reach the Commission tomorrow. Following the directive of the Election Commission which is expected to reach back here in a few days to the state Chief Electoral Officer, it may be detailed then whether repolls will be conducted or not, or in how many polling stations repolls will be carried out. It may be mentioned that the stipulated time for announcement of election results is fixed on March 6 and repolls if conducted will have to be done speedily.
Briefing mediapersons at the complex this evening, Joint CEO, N Praveen said that it is for the very first time in the history of the nation that such photographic evidence has been used to assure transparency and for preventing bogus voters.
Stating that the three ECI observers Sunil Gupta,DK Pandey and Gaurav Dwivedi have taken full assessment and compared the photographs in coordination with the Returning Officers and other observers, he mentioned that the reports will reach the Commission tomorrow and the observers have left for Delhi today evening.
Answering queries of media persons on whether repolls will be conducted as per irregularities captured on camera,“ We are just the facilitators and cannot comment, now it’s all up to the commission. I feel that the ECI will not let down the hopes of the public”, he said.
He further added that following the 35 complaints endorsed by the ECI, the photo comparisons have been conducted for 177 polling stations out of 13 assembly constituencies and encompassing six districts.
Since yesterday, photo comparisons have been carried out for Keirao and Andro constituencies of Imphal East district, Wabagai a/c of Thoubal district. 41 Chandel and Tengnoupal of Chandel district.Saikhul,Karong and Kangpokpi of Senapati district. Tamei and Nungba of Tamenglong district. Thanlon, 58 Churachanpur and Saikot of Churachanpur district. Out of the 13 constituencies, three belongs to the valley districts while the rest are of the hill districts.
The photo comparisons for Tamenglong, Chandel, Imphal East and Thoubal were carried out today in the same manner which was held yesterday at the Chief Election Office complex. Many sitting MLAs and complaining candidates came to scrutinize the photo comparison.
Interestingly, the photo matching for Wabagai a/c of Thoubal district bore tell tale irregularities. The voters mainly belonging to the Muslim community saw male voters compared with women and vice versa. Women photographed in the electoral roll was photographed at the polling station wearing burkas.Same individuals posing for different voters, blurred photographs were witnessed.
Whereas, there were not that many irregularities in photo comparing at the polling stations of Andro and Keirao assembly constituencies.