Dharna of ‘deprived’ voters of 38-Rakso polling station of 18-Palin Assembly termed illegal
A CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: The capital administration has declared the dharna called by the deprived voters of 38-Rakso polling station of 18-Palin Assembly constituency as illegal and unlawful. The voters had gathered at Akashdeep on Tuesday morning but the city police did not allow them to gather near the Nirvachan Bhawan here. Earlier on May 11, the deprived voters numbering 160 had staged a dharna at the same place demanding immediate repoll in 38-Rakso polling station.
Speaking to The Sentinel, the chairman of the ‘Deprived Voters of Rakso Polling Station’ Biri Nianya said that they will be meeting the Election Commission of India (ECI) members in the Nirvachan office and will be placing their grievances with all substantial evidences for repoll at Rakso.
“We have all the evidence related to our demand of repoll in Rakso. Around 160 voters were deprived of casting their votes on the day of repoll on April 27, thus we hope there will be a positive outcome at the meeting with the ECI members,” he said.
Meanwhile, Capital SP Tumme Ammo said that those group of people had earlier also held a peaceful dharna. But this time, they wrote to the Deputy Commissioner stating that they would go for an indefinite dharna.
“The DC did not give the permission as it will create traffic congestion which would hamper the public,” the SP said, adding that the DC assured to let a few representatives of the deprived voters to meet the ECI team who had arrived in the evening. Till the filing of this report the outcome of the meeting could not be known as the meeting started very late in the night hours.
Meanwhile, the ECI team headed by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mizoram, Ashish Kundra met the contesting candidates of Koloriang, Palin and Tali constituencies regarding the repoll.
After the discussion, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from 20th Tali constituency Thaji Kiogi Gichik said that the demands for repoll at 18 Jara and counting at Gimba polling station have been submitted. Balo Raja of 18th Palin said that all documents and video footages against Congress candidate Takam Pario have been submitted to the ECI. “I believe the ECI will take an appropriate decision since the Congress candidate had used money power and weapons during the process of election,” said Balo.
On the other hand, Congress candidate Takam Pario said that he had also submitted a representation for repoll at Rakso and Balo polling station. “Booth capturing was done and the evidence were handed over to the ECI,” said Pario.
Pani Taram, the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate for 21st Koloriang constituency alleged that the election system was not conducted fairly and demand for repoll at a few polling stations have been submitted to the ECI. Adding that demands of the people should be fulfilled by the ECI, he alleged that due to booth capturing by the opponent BJP party at Damin polling station, a total of 728 votes were cast whereas the actual number of voters there is only 697.
Representing BJP MLA candidate Lokam Tassar, his election agent — Ha Tatu questioned: “What about the college students who want to cast their votes? Will they be allowed to exercise their franchise, since the college examination is going to take place within this month?”
Also read: Arunachal news
