The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday issued directions for conducting a fresh poll at 11 polling stations on Monday from 7 am to 5 pm, while declaring that the poll taken earlier on Friday in respect of the said polling stations of 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency as ‘void’.
The direction was issued under Sections 58(2) and 58A(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 by chief electoral officer, Manipur Pradeep Kumar Jha. It appealed to all voters of the said polling stations to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
The polling stations are 3/11- Sajeb (A) and 3/21-Khurai Thongam Leikai under 3-Khurai Assembly Segment where the repoll will be held at Moirangkampu Sajeb Upper Primary School and S. Ibobi Primary School (East Wing), Khurai Thongam Leikai respectively.
Under 4-Kshetrigao Assembly Segment, the repoll will be conducted for polling station 4/43-Bamon Kampu (North-A) at Bamon Kampu Upper Primary School; 4/44-Bamon Kampu (North-B) at Pioneer Academy; 4/45-Bamon Kampu (South West) at Irilbung High School (North Wing) and 4/46-Bamon Kampu (South East) at Irilbung High School (South Wing).
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Under 5-Thongju Assembly Segment, fresh polling will be held for polling station 5/31-Khongman Zone-V(A) at National Children’s School.
Under 10-Uripok Assembly Segment, the repoll is to be carried out for polling station 10/1-Iroishemba at Iroisemba Upper Primary School (Eastern Wing); 10/6-Iroishemba Mamang Leikai at Iroisemba Upper Primary School (Western Wing); 10/7-Iroishemba Mayai Leikai at Iroisemba Upper Primary School (Middle Wing).
Under 18-Konthoujam Assembly Segment, a repoll will be held for polling station 18/22-Khaidem Makha at Khaidem Primary School (Southern Wing).
Following the first phase of the Lok Sabha Election to the 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur sought fresh polls at six polling stations due to reported incidents of mob violence, riots, and vandalism.
In an official letter addressed to the secretary of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Madhusudan Gupta, the joint CEO Ramananda Nongmeikapam highlighted the reasons for the call for fresh polls.
The letter cited incidents at two polling stations in Imphal East where mob violence and riot occurred and four in Imphal West where the EVM, CU, BU and VVPAT machines were destroyed by mobs, compromising the integrity of the election process.
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The decision was influenced by a report submitted by the Returning Officer of the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency Th Kirankumar, which stated that the results of the polls at these stations could not be ascertained due to the reasons indicated.
Ramananda Nongmeikapam, speaking to the Imphal Free Press, identified the six affected polling stations as 3/11 Moirangkampu Sajeb Upper Primary and 5/31 Khongman Zone (V) in Imphal East and 10/1, 10/6, 10/7 Iroisemba Upper Primary School (Eastern Wing, Western Wing, Middle Wing respectively) and 18/22 Khaidem Makha Leikai in Imphal West.
“We are awaiting the ECI’s response. The initiative for a fresh poll will be undertaken if recommended by the ECI,” Nongmeikapam stated.
He further revealed that the CEO Office has received numerous complaints from various political parties, including 36 for Inner Manipur and 11 for Outer Manipur from the INC, as well as from parties such as the BJP, and other independent candidates, all seeking a re-poll.
The CEO’s office is currently scrutinising these complaints under the respective Returning Officers, and a review will be conducted once the scrutiny is complete to determine further action, he added.
In anticipation of the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for April 26, in 13 Assembly segments spread across eight districts in Manipur, the joint CEO asserted that preparations are in full swing with adequate arrangements in place.
“The dispersal process of polling personnel may start from Sunday for some polling stations under P-3,” he said, mentioning that training sessions for micro observers, polling officers, and other officials have been conducted thoroughly to ensure no errors on their part.
Further stating that arrangements for strong rooms and the deployment of security personnel have been completed, he said,
“The CEO’s office is confident that the second phase of the election will be conducted peacefully, maintaining the sanctity of a free and fair electoral process.”
