Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council, on Monday said that the party is not supporting any of the candidates in the fray for November 7 by-polls in four Assembly segments of the state. The party reiterated the party’s stand to refrain from the by-polls considering the prevailing situation owing to COVID-19 outbreak.
Addressing a press conference at the party office in Imphal, CPI state executive member H Robindro refuted claims of certain candidates that they will get votes from CPI. He further said that the CPI does not support any candidate nor political party in the upcoming by-polls in Manipur.
Robindro then said the CPI considered the life of the people more important than votes and has been objecting to holding elections under the prevailing grim situation of the pandemic in the state. “Hence, there is no question of the party (CPI) supporting any candidate in the fray. Instead of supporting candidates, the party has been urging voters not to come out for voting on the by-poll day”, he also said.
Also read: CPI, Manipur unit demands special SOPs for by-elections
The party had recently adopted a decision that its members will not go to cast votes on the polling day as a mark of protest against the holding of the by-polls amid the grim situation of pandemic.
Mention may be made that when the Election Commission was adamant in holding the by-polls, the CPI had demanded enforcement of a strict SOP effectively.
The party observed that holding the by-elections amid the pandemic will put lives at risk.Â
NNN