Imphal, April 29 2009: Common candidate of Left and Democratic Co-ordination Committee Dr M Nara, who returned to Imphal after meeting officials of Election Commission of India to demand repoll in 16 polling stations of four Assembly segments in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, has observed that the Election Commission of India seems more interested on the 11 polling stations of Andro.

Talking to mediapersons at Irabot Bhavan here, Dr Nara who returned from New Delhi along with co-convenor of the Committee Kshetrimayum Shanta today, said during the meeting with the Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi yesterday, they exerted pressure upon the Election Commission to order repoll in 11 polling stations of Andro, three polling stations of Thoubal and one polling station each of Khundrakpam and Patsoi as conduct of the polling on April 22 was not free and fair.

However, the type of questions that were raised during the meeting gave the impression that among the 16 polling stations where re-polling has been demanded, the Commission seems to be more interested in the 11 polling stations of Andro, Dr Nara recalled.

the two representatives of the Left and Democratic Co-ordination Committee also highlighted that directive of the Commission with regard to provisions for video coverage and full security cover in polling stations of hyper sensitive areas have not been followed and in place of armed personnel, unarmed volunteers of VDF have been deployed, Dr Nara informed.

As to the demand for necessary action against Ningombam Gojen who is not only a Govt employee but also a close relative of the CM for his alleged indulges in malpractices during the election, the Election Commissioner had given his assurance of doing the needful after a through study of the relevant reports, Dr Nara said.

As the demand for repoll has also been raised not only from MPP but also from the side of the National leaders of CPI, the Election Commissioner assured that the matter would given serious thought after summoning necessary reports from the CEO and the RO and asked to relay if there is more informations in this connection, Dr Nara informed.

Rejecting the clarification made by DGP that volunteers of VDF have been deployed only in two polling stations, Dr Nara asserted that the tag of hypersensitive from all the seven polling stations had been removed at the eleventh hour and unarmed volunteers of Village Defence Force deployed to make possible mass rigging by Congress workers.

L Sotinkumar, another convenor of the Co-ordination Committee who was present at the occasion informed that a Wakat Meepham had been staged at Bishnupur bazar today to press the demand for repoll.

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