Leaders of 10 non-Congress parties leave to meet ECI officials
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 25 2012:
As the Election Commission of India (ECI) not let its decision known over the malpractices witnessed during the recent election to the State Assembly, a joint meeting of 10 non-Congress political parties held at Hotel Imphal today decided to leave Imphal for Delhi tomorrow to meet the officials of ECI.
The marathon meeting which went on from 8.30 am till 4 pm was presided over by President of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Manipur unit Radhabinod Koijam.
The joint meeting of the 10 non-Congress parties further decided to stage a Wakat Meepham at Keishampat on February 27 to spread the message for free and fair election and press for rectification of the alleged mal-practices in the recent election to the state Assembly before counting of votes and declaration of election results.
Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, State Secretary of CPI Dr M Nara pointed out that it was the third joint meeting of the 10 non-Congress parties.
He noted that in addition to the efforts made for ensuring free and fair election, Manipur has become the first state in the country where photos of the electorates in the Electoral Rolls as well as those taken at the time of casting the votes need to be compared on account of numerous electoral malpractices.
In spite of knowing all these, the ECI cancelled the proposed visit of three Special Observers of ECI to Manipur without assigning any reason.
This has created confusion and apprehension in the minds of the people.
One question which is uppermost in the mind of the people today is whether voting is to be done without correcting any of these anomalies.
The Joint CEO had been to Delhi but returned without resolution of the matter.
So, the leaders of 10 non-Congress parties would leave Imphal for Delhi tomorrow to highlight the fact that counting of votes without necessary correction would be ethical, Dr Nara informed.
President of NCP, Manipur unit Radhabinod Koijam said that even though ECI ensured taking the photographs of all the electorates at the time of casting their voters, many polling stations have been found out where photographs of the electorates have not been taken.
It would not be appropriate for the ECI to take decision alone over the issue of electoral malpractices.
An opportunity should also be given to the political parties to have their say.
Radhabinod questioned why the proposed visit of ECI observers had been cancelled without assigning any reason and why the photo comparison had been conducted if the necessary rectifications are not to be made.
If all these malpractices are to be covered up then there is no reason why ECI should not be regarded as a total failure, he added.
Comment
