Election

INC candidate’s wife allegedly barred from voting at Saitu AC in Kangpokpi

Regina Pamei Haokip, wife of Lamtinthang Haokip alleged that the village authority of Tumuyon Khullen led by its chairman stopped her from entering the polling area even after identifying herself as the wife of the INC candidate.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 8 Nov 2020, 1:47 pm

Voting in Saitu AC, Kangpokpi district
Voting in Saitu AC, Kangpokpi district

 

The wife of INC candidate Dr Lamtinthang Haokip of 51-Saitu AC by-elections was allegedly stopped from entering the polling area to cast her vote by village authority on Saturday. Security personnel on polling duty remained mute spectators to the incident, she alleged.

Regina Pamei Haokip, wife of Lamtinthang Haokip, alleged that the village authority of Tumuyon Khullen led by its chairman restricted INC voters to cast their vote and they stopped her from entering the polling area even after identifying herself as the wife of the INC candidate.

The INC candidate’s wife said, “When told that I am the wife of the INC candidate, the village authority and its chairman insultingly told me we do not know who are you and we do not know the wife of INC candidate is and manhandled me by pulling and pushing me in my shirt”.

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She also alleged that the security personnel on duty at the polling station remained mute spectators when unconstitutional activities were carried out in and around the surrounding area of the polling station.

Also alleging proxy voting perpetuated by village authority of Tumuyon Khullen and M Ningthoupham, Regina Pamei Haokip asked the role of village authority inside polling station at 51/4 Mayangkhang (B), 51/5 Tumuyon Khullen(A) and 51/6 Tumuyon Khullen (B). What is the role of the village authority inside the polling booth and in the vicinity of the polling area when security personnel are deployed to look after the polling, she asked.

She also alleged that the village authority chairman of the Tumuyon Khullen told her, “We have a unanimous resolution to vote for a particular candidate and you cannot break that resolution when there are many INC supporters who were forcefully denied entry inside the polling booth to cast their vote.

“I have complained to the concerned authority and the police officer at the polling station but nothing has been done rather it looks as if they are supporting the unconstitutional activities carried out by the village authority”.

She also alleged that similar style of proxy voting and vote capturing has been done at 51/4 Mayangkhang (B) by the village authority where at least one member of the Village Authority remained inside the polling booth and dictated the voters to whom they should cast their vote.

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She also said that the ARO and other concerned authorities also knew that some village authority members were inside the polling booth but they acted as if nothing happened.

Meanwhile, Ponga, an INC voter at Tumuyon Khullen alleged: “I was restricted to enter the polling booth to cast my vote but I managed to enter it. However, one village authority member was standing just near the EVM and told me to cast in favour of a BJP candidate which I denied and tried to cast my vote for the INC candidate to which the village authority member pulled my hand and attempted to forcefully made me press the BJP candidate button. However, I struggled hard to press on the INC candidate button. Since then, no INC supporters were allowed to enter the polling booth to cast their votes.

She also alleged that outside the polling booth the village authority controls everything and acts calm and peaceful but inside they play an unconstitutional act of proxy voting and vote capturing.

Regina Pamei Haokip has sought repoll at 51/4 Mayangkhang(B), 51/5 Tumuyon Khullen (A) and 51/6 Tumuyon Khullen (B).

Meanwhile, at 51/4 Mayangkhang(B), village youth volunteers and a media team had a scuffle when the volunteers were restricted from entering the polling area. However, with the intervention of the ARO and other concerned authority they were allowed to perform their duty.

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First published:

Tags:

saituINC candidate's wifeRegina Pamei Haokip

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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