BJP Manipur Pradesh strongly condemned yesterday’s untoward incident that took place during the electoral process of first phase of 18th Lok Sabha election.

President of BJP Manipur Pradesh A Sarda expressed condemnation and demanded action against the perpetrators involved in the incident.

Calling the incident of party agents being attacked during the electoral process as highly condemnable, Sarda said that this isn’t a new development and that similar incidents have taken place in earlier polls as well, where few even received bullet wounds during Parliamentary elections in the past.

72.32 per cent of voter turnout was recorded in first phase of Lok Sabha election that took place on April 19.

“We have also lodged a complaint with the ECI. As per preliminary reports several of our BJP workers have got arrested, or threatened”, said A Sarda. 

Meanwhile, In response to violence and intimidation targeting polling agents affiliated with the Congress Party, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, the Congress candidate, expressed deep concern over the unsettling turn of events in today’s elections. Akoijam condemned the unprecedented level of aggression and disruption that marred the electoral process, labeling it as an aberration in the political annals of Manipur.

Expressing his dismay, Akoijam lamented the distressing scenes of chaos and fear witnessed during the polling activities. He highlighted the gravity of the situation stating that such brazen acts of hostility pose a significant threat to the integrity of the electoral process and democratic principles.

“These attacks and threats against our polling agents are not just an assault on individuals but an affront to the very foundation of democracy,” said Akoijam.

Earlier in the day, the Manipur unit of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) strongly denounced the widespread incidents of threats and intimidation that occurred at numerous polling stations across both the inner and outer regions.

In 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in Manipur, a call for fresh voting in six polling stations has been made by the Chief Electoral Officer in Manipur.

The Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, Ramananda Nongmeikapam, has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Election Commission of India.

In his letter, he requested for a fresh poll in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

This comes after, the General Election from the 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency took a turbulent turn on April 19 as reports of violence and disruptions poured in from several polling stations. 

The Returning Officer for 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in a message to the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, detailed the circumstances under which the polling process was vitiated in multiple locations.

According to the report, several polling stations faced severe disturbances, rendering the polling results inconclusive. Moirangkampu Sajeb Upper Primary School (3/11), Khongman Zone (5/31), and Iroisemba Upper Primary School in its Eastern (10/1), Western (10/6), and Middle (10/7) wings were among the affected stations.

The chaos ensued due to mob violence, with reports indicating that security personnel were overpowered by unruly crowds, leading to the destruction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Control Units (CUs), Ballot Units (BUs), and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The situation spiralled out of control as law and order were breached, leaving the polling process in disarray.

Furthermore, at Khaidem Makha (18/22), the polling process was interrupted when a group of unidentified individuals forcefully cast approximately 61 votes, triggering widespread violence in the area. Despite timely intervention by security forces to safeguard the voting machines, the situation deteriorated rapidly, halting the polling process indefinitely.

In light of these alarming developments, the matter has been reported under sub-section (1) of section 58 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Election Commission of India has been urged to provide further directions in accordance with sub-section (2) of the aforementioned section.