Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 16 2009:
Inconveniences of different kinds greeted media persons at the counting centre at Thoubal district Hqs because of inefficiency and irresponsibility on the part of the relevant officials.
There was no fax machine nor any seat for media persons at the media centre.
Even though there was a telephone receiver, no outgoing calls could
be made.
There was no in-charge media officer at Thoubal media centre which was in violation of the DIPR order issued on March 23.Absence of media officer in-charge proved a great hurdle to media persons in collecting information about poll results in time.
Although media persons have permission to enter counting halls, they were refused entry by security personnel.
The media persons were allowed entry much later after informing the matter to relevant officials including the CEO.
The media persons received very little cooperation from the RO and his team as they were busy counting votes.
Efforts to retrieve counting reports of Khangabok A/C where there was report of 100 percent polling in AthokpamC proved futile with the ARO simply brushing aside the scribes to take the report from website.
The ARO also refused to provide any hard copy.
On the other hand, winning INC candidate in Outer Constituency Thangso Baite came with more than four followers defying the instruction of the Election Commission in this regard to take his election certificate at Thoubal district Hqs at about 5.45 pm today.
Thangso Baite also demanded his election certificate from the Outer Constituency RO when hard copies of poll results were being awaited from district headquarters even though it was already known that Baite won the seat.