Election Commission of India Orders Repoll In Two Booths At Arunachal

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered re-polling in two booths in Arunachal Pradesh following recommendation of a team of the commission who held discussion with representatives of various political parties here on May 14 last.

The Commission has ordered fresh poll for both parliamentary and assembly constituencies at one polling station each under Koloriang and Tali constituencies in Kurung Kumey and Kra Daadi districts respectively on May 21 next, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said in a notification here on Saturday.

The polling stations include 28-Nampe under Koloriang constituency and 6-Gimba under Tali constituency. Polling would be held in the two polling stations from 6 AM in the morning and would end at 2 PM, the notification said. The Commission in its order stated that polling parties would move either from assembly constituency headquarters or district headquarters depending upon availability of EVMs and other polling materials for conduct of fresh polls.

“Each polling party shall be headed at least by an assistant returning officer (ARO) who would function as the presiding officer of the respective polling station and other members of the polling parties should be taken locally as far as possible and as required in the interest of having minimum delay in conducting repoll,” the ECI order said.

The ECI further in its order added that due publicity of fresh poll would be given to the contesting candidates and adequate security arrangement would be made in the polling stations to conduct peaceful polling.

The Election Commission had ordered repoll in 18 polling stations in the state’s Kurung Kumey district on April 20 and 27 including the ones at Cheki and Pating villages where, the Congress had alleged, votes were cast in the name of 37 voters who had died over the past few months.

Following complaints of election malpractices by the ruling BJP, the Election Commission had deputed a four-member team to the state who, met the candidates and election agents of violence-hit Tali and Palin assembly constituencies under Kra Daadi district and Koloriang assembly constituency under Kurung Kumey district on May 14 last.

Tali, Palin and Koloriang assembly constituencies witnessed several instances of violence during the repoll conducted in April 20 and 27 last, including assault on polling officials, snapping of bridges, and planting of explosives at a helipad.

A gaon burah, Bengia Tamang, from Koloriang, who was a supporter of the NPP, was shot dead on April 26, a day ahead of the fresh poll.

Also read: Arunachal news