Manipur CPI secretary L Sotinkumar on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of working in favour of the ruling party and failing to act on matters which needed urgent attention.
“The ECI has ignored the election malpractice conducted by the BJP and remained silent spectators,” Sotinkumar said while addressing media persons in Imphal on Thursday.
Sotinkumar said the commission remained silent, starting from the flag campaign and the several incidents of violence, money and muscle power used. It has taken no steps up till today, he said.
The state CPI leader said the Manipur Secular Democratic Alliance strongly condemned such activities where the true meaning of democracy has no value and is on the brink of extinction.
Stating that people have been prey to the election money distributed by different political parties and candidates, he said, “Drug dealers, billionaires and mafias who want to rob the rights and the money of the people for their personal benefits have been contesting elections masking themselves as BJP”.
Expressing fear that the BJP would create hindrance in conducting elections upon seeing their defeat and would destroy the true meaning and practice of democracy, he said voting them to power to rule the people would not bring change.
Sotinkumar alleged many masked men, especially in Sugnu, have destroyed the polling booths of CPI candidates and even threatened people to not come out on the day of the election.
Saying that pre-poll violence by BJP workers has been seen in Heirok, he appealed to the people to work for the betterment of the people and choose the right candidate. “It is the time to teach a lesson to the BJP in the second phase of the election,” he said.
Meanwhile, national CPI leader M Nara on Thursday strongly condemned the malpractices and violence that took place during the first phase of the state Assembly Election 2022 and said the festival of democracy turned into a money distribution festival.
"The festival of democracy has turned into a money distribution festival… it is an open buy and sell vote that totally violates the ECI rules and guidelines and model code of conduct… What will happen in the future if it continues?" Nara asked.
The CPI leader also said the people of Sugnu and Wangjing have been terrorised and threatened not to come out of their homes to exercise their voting rights in the second phase of the election which is going to be held on March 5.
The rights of the people have been robbed off and there were threats to polling stations from 34/9 till 34/17, he said, adding that their houses have been attacked by gunshots. He said the people need to realize the current situation and the terror which has been unleashed by the BJP workers in Sugnu constituency.
He pointed out that polling booths of CPI candidates in Kakching Khunou have been destroyed and dismantled. He said the areas are hypersensitive and the concerned authorities must take up serious action.
CPI leader Ksh Santa appealed to the people to stand for the right candidates and to conduct elections peacefully and protect the candidates. He said the alliance would stand firmly for the people and take on the BJP which has been using money and muscle power.
