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Manipur Elections : CEC to ensure peaceful polls

	January 08, 2007

After reviewing poll preparations in the state, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Jan. 4 termed the situation in Manipur as “difficult” but promised enough security arrangements for “free and fair” electioneering. Manipur goes to the polls next month.



“We have met the security requirements for smooth conduct of polls. There is no reason to worry about rigging or booth-capturing. The security strength has been increased two-and-a-half times more than the strength used in the 2002 Assembly elections,” Gopalaswami said at a media conference before leaving Imphal.



He said at least one section of central paramilitary forces would be deployed at each of the 2,053 polling stations spread across 60 Assembly constituencies in nine districts.



He, however, declined to disclose the strength of additional paramilitary forces to be provided by the Centre.



“We have been able to meet the requirements as suggested by the state Government,” he said.



The state Government has requested the Centre for 200 companies of central forces after senior officials of various security agencies met Union home secretary V.K. Duggal, who left Imphal today at the end of a two-day visit.



The team, however, did not meet the Union home secretary. Besides the security forces, 30 observers will be deployed in the booths.



Electronic voting machines and digital cameras will be used in all the polling stations to ensure fair polling, said the election commissioner.



‘Dispelling doubts raised by some political parties, Gopalaswami said identification of sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations would be done purely from the security point of view and not under any pressure.



He said five choppers would also be available to ferry polling personnel and materials to interior and inaccessible areas of the hill districts.



Though the formal notification on polling dates will be issued only after the poll panel returns to Delhi, as of now, polling will be held in three phases from February 8. The second phase will be held on February 14.



Initially, the second phase was scheduled on February 15. Since the day coincides with Lui Ngaini - the largest festival of the Nagas - it was preponed to February 14 following a request from various political parties. The last phase of polling will be held on February 23.



The final electoral rolls have already been published and the number of voters fixed at 16,87,543, including 8.27 lakh voters after deleting 1,700 names of bogus voters.





Ibobi plans to contest two seats - Final decision pending



A day after the election dates were announced, the Congress swung into action with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh strengthening his position to retain the top seat.



The only areas posing a threat to the incumbent Government are the four Naga-dominated districts where the four legislators have resigned.



According to reports, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh is planning to contest from two constituencies this time to ensure his return to the Assembly. However, he has not taken any final decision.



State Congress president Gaikhangam said the chief minister had not yet informed the party about his plans. The chief minister had hinted that he may contest from his constituency of Khangabok as well as the neighbouring Thoubal seat - both in Thoubal district - during his meeting with leaders of Thoubal block Congress committee on Monday, a party source said.



Congress workers in Thoubal have been putting pressure on the chief minister to contest from the constituency as they do not have a better candidate. Ibobi Singh has reportedly told them that he got the approval of AICC president Sonia Gandhi in this regard during his recent visit to New Delhi.



Though Ibobi Singh has given no specific reason for his intention to contest both the seats, party sources said he was feeling insecure in Khangabok.



The sources said former minister L. Jatra Singh of the Opposition Manipur Peoples Party (MPP), who lost the last Assembly polls to Ibobi Singh, was being perceived as a threat to the chief minister this time.



The MPP is emerging as a major force after two regional parties, the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM) and the Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party (DRPP), merged with the oldest regional party. L. Tomba Singh of the FPM (now MPP) is the sitting legislator from Thoubal.



Ibobi Singh’s move, however, has angered the Khangabok block Congress committee. Hundreds of them arrived here today by the busload to lodge their protest. They met Ibobi Singh at his official residence and reportedly demanded a clear-cut stand on his choice of constituency.



“We requested the chief minister to let us know from where he would contest the election. We told him that contesting from both the constituencies might not be good for him and that he should concentrate on only one seat,” a party worker said after meeting the chief minister.



Ibobi Singh assured the delegates that he would soon inform them about his decision, the worker added.



Gaikhangam said the Congress would contest all the 60 seats and the list of candidates would be announced by January 20. The polls will be held in three phases on February 8, 15 and 23.