IMPHAL, October 7: The Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council has announced that the party will not field any candidate for the Hiyanglam bye-poll. The party will also not support Congress, BJP or Trinamool.
Dr Moirangthem Nara, State secretary of the party, interacting with the media this afternoon at Irawat Bhawan, announced his party`™s stand regarding the bye-poll. He charged that the present election campaign is a brazen show of money and muscle power. Election has become a commercial trade without any code of conduct, he added.
Dr Nara continued that other political parties are using all their might to retain an Assembly seat just for two and half year. He said CPI has been silent over the bye-poll, as the party has been preoccupied with the month-long Irawat celebration, conducted in various parts of the State.
Dr Nara further said that the party will, however, keep a close watch of the bye-poll, before adding that formal complaints will be lodged against political parties and their candidates who are found committing malpractices during the campaigns and election, to the Election Commission of India.
He also maintained that CPI`™s absence in the fray is also a form of protest against criminalisation of election by using money and muscle power.
But this is not to boycott the election. The current run-up to the election, on the other hand, is creating a tense atmosphere in Hiyanglam, he stressed.
Dr Nara also pointed out that the decision to abstain from contesting in the bye-poll was taken in the State executive meeting, which was held earlier during the day. The meeting also decided not to support parties like Congress, BJP and Trinamool in the bye-poll, he said.
Dr Nara also said that CPI`™s campaign for electoral reforms will go on so as to bring about a change in the present system of election. Pointing out flaws in the Electronic Voting Machines that are being used in elections, he maintained that the Supreme Court has directed to start using Paper Tray EVM during election on October 8, 2013.
A case is still pending at the Manipur High court in the same regard, he said.