Repolling Ordered At 11 Manipur Polling Stations Amid Gunfire And EVM Destruction

The Manipur Chief Electoral Officer has declared repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, set for April 22, after incidents of gunfire and EVM destruction marred the voting process. The decision came in response to a directive from the Election Commission, nullifying the polls held at these stations on April 19 and mandating fresh polling.

The affected polling stations include Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao, and one in Thongju in Imphal East district. Additionally, three stations in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district are also slated for repolling, as confirmed by an official statement.

Manipur witnessed several incidents during the polling, including firing, intimidation, and the destruction of EVMs, particularly in conflict-prone areas. Despite the challenges, the voter turnout reached 72% across the two Lok Sabha constituencies – Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur – on Friday.

Earlier, the Congress party had raised concerns, demanding repolling in a total of 47 polling stations, citing allegations of booth capturing and election rigging. K Meghachandra, Manipur Congress President, disclosed that the party had formally lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, pressing for repolling in 36 polling stations within the Inner Manipur constituency and 11 within the Outer Manipur constituency.

These developments underscore the significance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that every vote counts. With repolling scheduled for the affected stations, efforts are underway to address the irregularities and uphold the democratic principles fundamental to the electoral process in Manipur.

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