IMPHAL, Feb 5: Polling agents of MSCP and NPF candidates of Nungba constituency have today lodged a complaint with the Tamenglong district election officer on excesses committed by agents of Congress candidate, G Gaikhangam in a bid to manipulate polling at Tupul polling station during re-poll yesterday.
The MSCP candidate, Adim Pamei, met press men at the party’s office at Konung Mamang this afternoon in this regard and recounted the unfair tactics of the Congress workers.
He said, re-polling process at the Tupul was duly completed at around 3.15 pm without any major disturbances. At that time, the EVM had recorded a polling of 597. As per regulations, all the inner agents put their signature and the sealing of the EVM was finalized.
All of a sudden, he said, the election agent of Gaikhangam, John Pamei pulled out a pistol and fired four/five blank shots to intimidate the polling officials and demanded continuation of voting in order to enable proxy voting by scores of Congress supporters who have been brought in from Khouvum, Nungba and Noney for that purpose.
In connivance with polling officials, voting was carried out on the spare EVM, which was meant for emergency purposes, beyond the voting hours, he said.
The agents of both NPF and INC refused to put their signatures during the sealing of the second EVM, on the ground that it was in violation of the governing polling regulations.
In the complaint to the DEO, the MSCP and NPF polling agents have demanded that only the first EVM should be considered for counting while the second EVM should be cancelled.
Moreever, they have sought an investigation into the firing incident involving John Pamei and pleaded that befitting punishment be awarded to him.
Meanwhile, the Chakanlong Peidai of Charol Tupul, the customary village court, has supported the charges leveled against the Congress in a press statement issued today. It said the whole polling team that included the security personnel allowed the Congress supporters to rigged the poll and cast votes on the second EVM after a mayhem was created by the gun fires and violent clashes between rival supporters. The agents and supporters of other parties were scared away.
The pedai has contended that 59 outside voters included illegally in the electoral roll got permission to cast their votes despite the long standing demand for their deletion. It pointed out that Tamenglong DC and Nungba SDO had ignored directives from the EC and the chief secretary for deletion of the voters and the ECI should conduct an independent enquiry to find out the reasons for not following its order.