Left parties pile on the heat to conduct repoll
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2009: Insisting for repoll in 16 polling stations under the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency where the ruling Congress party reportedly indulged in browbeating voters and mass rigging, a protest demonstration was staged at Sagolband Khamnam Leirak today under the aegis of the Left and Democratic Coordination Committee.

CPI members staging a dharna demanding repoll and against the muscle power of Cong

Speaking at the protest venue, co-convenor of the Left Coordination Committee L Sotinkumar alleged that the Congress party resorted to mass rigging after realising that they could not buy votes.

Clarifying that there was no inkling about Dr Nara's defeat in the just concluded elections, Sotinkumar claimed that the common candidate of the Left Coordination Committee constituted by five political parties will certain win the Inner Lok Sabha seat with a huge margin over the Congress candidate.

It was because of this realisation that the Left parties' candidate would score a run away victory and that money would not be able to ensure victory, the Congress party resorted to mass rigging in 16 polling stations under Andro and Thoubal Assembly constituencies, Sotinkumar asserted.

Ahead of the elections, the CEO called and informed all political parties about polling stations which would be categorised as hyper-sensitive, he said while asking all concerned as to why no information was given when some hyper-sensitive polling stations were conspicuously turned into normal.

Denial of voters to exercise their franchise on the pretext that the polling time was over clearly testified that there have been serious malpractices, the Left parties' co-convenor asserted.

Questioning what should be the destiny of the land if such malpractices are encouraged rather than redressing it, Sotinkumar observed that one basic connotation of elections is to bring a change in the society through democratic means.

In case, such democratic methods fail, it is only obvious to take up arms to bring about a social revolution, he asserted.

The communist party which was once armed never vowed not to take up arms ever again, Sotinkumar said.

Leaders of other political parties comprising the Left Coordination Committee also denounced the malpractices undertaken by Congress party during the elections.

They also echoed the demand for repoll in 16 polling stations.