Newmai News Network
Imphal: An election agent of the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency has lodged a complaint accusing a Booth Level Officer (BLO) of giving undue influence on an elderly woman who cast her vote under the special provision for elderly citizens.
Electors who are above 85 years of age (AVSC) and those suffering from 40 per cent disability (AVPD) have started voting for the 18th Lok Sabha election through postal ballots. The exercise commenced on Sunday in almost all the districts under the supervision of respective District Election Officers (DEOs).
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In a complaint lodged to the Imphal East DEO by an election agent of the INC in the fray from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency on April 7, it is alleged the BLO of Chingmeirong Mamang Leikai exerted undue influence while an elderly woman cast her vote under the special provision for aged senior citizens.
The agent alleged that the BLO insisted the 93-year-old woman cast her vote in favour of the candidate listed as sl. No. 2. The said BLO further told her that she would be rewarded with money to buy fish.
Pertinently, the candidate in the sl. no. 2 is Thounaojam Basanta Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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The agent, in his complaint, drew the attention of the DEO to take necessary action to ensure a free and fair election.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India as well as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur on violation of the election Model Code of Conduct by the incumbent government in the state.
In the complaint, the MPCC despite the enforcement of the model code of conduct, the state government continued to issue notifications for filling up vacant posts in government departments.
It is alleged that the Bishnupur district employment exchange on March 28 issued a notice for sponsoring filling 1140 posts of pre-primary teachers on a contract basis under the Directorate of Education (S) Manipur government.
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The Social Welfare department also issued a notice on April 1 regarding an extension of the last date for application form submission for availing financial assistance under the “Ima Nongthangliema Yaipha Tengbang Scheme” for women, the MPCC pointed out.
The MPCC further alleged the release of funds under Prime Minister Awaj Yojana(G) despite the enforcement of the model code of conduct.
The MPCC, in its complaint, sought legal actions to be taken against the violators of the model code of conduct.
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Furthermore, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Tuesday demanded a whitepaper on the accusation that the Congress circulated the video of parading two Kuki women naked by a mob during the initial stage of the ethnic violence in the state last year.
In a recent election rally of the BJP candidate in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency, chief minister Biren Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, accused the Congress of circulating the video to tarnish Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image.
Biren further alleged that the video was strategically circulated just before the parliamentary session last June.
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Strongly reacting to this allegation, MPCC president K Meghachandra today demanded that the chief minister must produce a whitepaper regarding the viral video.
“It is very unfortunate that the chief minister brought up the issue once again to use as election propaganda for the BJP,” the MPCC president said.
Meghachandra further said that being in charge of the Home Department which the intelligence wing is also a part of, the chief minister must put the detailed report of the viral video in the public domain.
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“It will not be wise on the part of the chief minister and the BJP to use the shocking incident as election propaganda without placing the detailed government report on the matter,” the Congress leader also said.
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