Imphal, April 23 2009: Condemning the assault of a BJP worker allegedly by Congress MLA Bijoy Koijam and his escort personnel at polling station number 5/8-Sharda LP School of Thongju Assembly Constituency towards the end of the polling hour yesterday, BJP State Unit has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India.

On the other hand, Congress party has asserted that MLA Bijoy Koijam managed to foil the attempt of the BJP workers to capture the booth at polling station no.5/8 Sharda LP School yesterday.

Informing that a complaint has been lodged against the MLA during a press conference at the party office here today, BJP State unit president Dr H Borbabu said the conduct of the MLA who barged into the polling station along with his security escorts and beat up the BJP worker identified as Nongmeikapam Gyneshore brutally is condemnable.

Borbabu also alleged that MLA Bijoy Koijam whisked out his pistol to threaten Gyaneshore.

Such tactics of using fire arms and muscle power to threaten the voters if they could not be won over with money is the old habit of the Congress party, he charged.

The election agent of BJP State Unit has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India to conduct an inquiry into the incident and to take up necessary action against the MLA, Borbabu informed, adding that the copies of the complaint lodged with the Election Commission have also been forwarded to all the National leaders of the party at the Centre.

He also categorically stated that MLA Bijoy Koijam and the Congress party should be held responsible for any unwanted incidents that may occur to BJP worker Gyaneshore.

Gyaneshore, who was also present during the press conference, recalled that he was standing outside the booth after casting his vote in the polling station when MLA Bijoy Koijam arrived along with his younger brother and escort personnel and all of them went inside the polling station.

'Curious of what the MLA and his escort personnel may be up to inside the polling station, I got up and walked to the door and when I heard the MLA saying that he would cast the votes of all those who have not exercised their franchise yet, I suggested that the voters themselves should cast their votes.

'To this, the MLA pulled out his personal pistol and tried to shoot me by pulling the trigger and then started assaulting me along with his escort personnel,' Gyaneshore alleged.

He added that he did not see any uniformed security personnel around at the time of the incident.

Gyaneshore, who reportedly needed treatment at JN Hospital, also categorically stated that the MLA should be held responsible in case any unfortunate incident befall on him in future.

Meanwhile, in a statement made available to the press, district president of Imphal East District Congress Committee K Jagat has asserted that MLA Bijoy Koijam managed to foil the booth capturing attempt by the BJP workers at polling station number 5/8Sharda LP School in Thongju Assembly Constituency yesterday.

One BJP worker identified as Nongmaikapam Gyaneshore s/o Mohan Singh of Koirou was trying to capture the booth along with other BJP workers, he alleged and added that they were trying to force all to vote for the BJP man.

They were forcing the voters to cast their votes in favour of BJP candidate.

Due to such undue interference, many voters returned home without casting their votes, the statement said, adding that the matter was brought to the notice of MLA Bijoy Koijam when he came to cast his vote by other Congress workers.

To dissuade them from resorting to such tactics, MLA Bijoy gave advise to Gyaneshore and other BJP workers.

But they acted rude and told the MLA to go away as he has no business there.

Infuriated at their conduct, MLA Bijoy Koijam compelled Gyaneshore to leave the polling station at around 3 pm and the polling was resume peacefully, the statement said, while recalling an incident which took place at the same polling station during the Lok Sabha election of 2004 in which Gyaneshore ran away after snatching ballot box.

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