Congress alleges voter suppression, seeks repolling at 47 Manipur booths

IMPHAL — Congress has demanded repolling in 47 polling stations in strife-torn Manipur, where the first-phase polling was held in all polling stations in the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency and some polling stations in the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 19, amidst numerous cases of poll-related violence.

President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Keisham Meghachandra Singh, while addressing a press conference on the evening of April 19, stated that they have lodged a complaint with the authorities for repolling in 36 polling stations in Inner Manipur and 11 in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies, where the rights of the voters were blatantly violated during the voting on April 19.

Meghachandra, also a sitting Congress MLA, alleged that individuals who were set to act as agents for the Congress party’s candidates in both Inner and Outer Manipur constituencies were threatened prior to the elections. He stated that those agents were unable to occupy positions inside the polling stations, and voters who supported the Congress party were unable to cast their votes at various polling stations.

Representatives of political parties belonging to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc in Manipur, which are extending support to Indian National Congress candidates Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and Alfred Kanngam Arthur, were also in attendance during the press conference.

The second phase of polling in Manipur for the remaining segments of the Outer Manipur constituency will take place on April 26, with counting scheduled for June 4.

The April 19 voting will determine the fate of six candidates: Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam (INC), Th. Basantakumar (BJP), Maheshwar Thounaojam (RPI-Athawale), and independent candidates RK Somendro alias Kaiku, retired Col. H Sarat, and Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba in Inner Manipur.

Alfred Kanngam Arthur (INC), Kachui Timothy Zimik (NPF), and independent candidates S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai are in the race for the Outer Manipur constituency.