Imphal: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has, under subsection (2) of Section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, declared that the poll taken on February 28 at 12 polling stations to be void and appointed March 5, 2022 (Saturday) as the date for taking re-poll at the said polling stations with hours of poll from 7 am to 4 pm in accordance with the Commission’s instructions contained in Chapter-XIII.
The 12 polling stations going for re-poll are Sarouthel (l-Khundrakpam constituency) in Imphal East, 51/46- New Keithelmanbi (51-Saitu constituency) in Kangpokpi district, 56/5-Songsang, 56/10-Maite and 56/19-Tinsuong (56-Thanlon constituency) in Churachandpur district, 57/20- Majuron Kuki of Churachandpur district, 57/31-N.Chingphei in Churachandpur district, 57/34- Khoirentak, 57139- Molsang in Churachandpur district and 57/49- Leinom (57-Henglep constituency) of Churachandpur district; 60/36- Teikot in Churachandpur district and 60/43- Maukot, also in Churachandpur district (the latter two are in Singhat constituency).
The proposal for re-poll in these polling stations was recommended based on the facts and information received/reported from respective Returning Officers, the ECI order said.
One of the main reasons for consideration of re-polling was connected to damage of EVMs by miscreants during and after the poll, the order further said. “This kind of incidents lead to major discomfort to the electors of the polling stations as their right to franchise gets infringed on the poll day and they will now need to come out again to exercise their rightful franchise on the day of repoll, the ECI order further said.
Several houses and vehicles were vandalized in poll-related violence incidents reported in Thoubal and Kakching districts of Manipur where voting will take place in the second phase on March 5, according to reports reaching here. Besides firing several rounds of guns, petrol bombs were also lobbed at some houses in the violence incidents involving threatening of workers of candidates reported in the two districts last night, the reports further said.
The poll-related violence incidents were reported even as only two days are left to go to the second and final phase election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
In one of the violence incidents reported in Sugnu constituency of Kakching district last night, around 10.30 pm, workers and supporters of a candidate smashed some vehicles., the reports said. Two Gypsy vehicles, one each of Santro car and Bolero and as many as eight two-wheelers were smashed in the attack on the polling camp and house of a rival candidate, the reports added.
The attackers also allegedly fired several rounds of guns. However, there were no reports of human casualty in the incidents.
In another poll-related violence incident, as many as five houses in Wangjing-Tencha constituency were reportedly attacked with gunshots, stones and other deadly weapons last night, around 11.30 pm.
In yet another poll-related incident in the same constituency, two houses were damaged after miscreants attacked with petrol bombs in today in the wee hours, the reports also said. Timely intervention by the villagers saved the houses from burning down completely.
In Heirok constituency, three shops belonging to the active workers of a candidate were reportedly vandalized by miscreants at Kakmayai village last night, around 10.30 pm. While vandalizing the shops, the miscreants also opened fire several rounds of guns in the air, the reports also said. Denouncing the vandalism and intimidation, villagers staged a protest today.
The second and final phase of the 60-seat Manipur legislative Assembly will take place on March 5 (Saturday). In the phase, voting will take place in 22 Assembly segments spread across 10 districts of the state. A total of 92 candidates are in the fray.
NNN