By Our Staff Reporter IMPHAL, Jun 15: As the BJP-led coalition Government has gone on record that the Government has run into an overdraft of over Rs 274 crore on account of releasing huge amount of funds when the election model code of conduct was in force, it has been testified that the Lok Sabha election held in the State was not free and fair, asserted MPCC president Gaikhangam. Seeking immediate attention of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Congress party has demanded repoll in both Inner Manipur PC and Outer Manipur PC. Speaking to media persons at his Babupara official residence today, Gaikhangam who is also a Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member said that BJP won the Lok Sabha election on the strength of sheer money and muscle power. Expressing deep concern over the political unrest besieging the State on account of power struggle within BJP, Gaikhangam asserted that the power struggle is not in the interest of the State rather it is creating undue misery to all sections of people. Pointing out that the State is currently gripped by political crisis and financial crisis, the ex-Deputy Chief Minister said that the State Assembly’s budget session had concluded and it’s time to take up a number of development programmes but the power struggle has derailed and stalled whatever development programmes implemented by the Government. It was no other but the Government itself which said that huge amounts were released when the election model code of conduct was in force. Two Ministers have been stripped of three key portfolios which implies that they were accountable for withdrawal of the huge amounts and there is no guarantee that the huge amounts thus withdrawn when the model code of conduct was in force would not have been used in the election, Gaikhangam said. Now the proof of Congress party’s assertion that excessive money and muscle power was used and the poll was rigged at different places has come out in the open, and the same proof has been admitted by the Government, he claimed. Asserting that both the Lok Sabha MPs of Manipur got elected by taking recourse to all kinds of unfair means, the CWC Member urged the ECI to order repoll in both the Parliamentary seats. Rather than blaming a couple of Ministers for releasing huge amounts when the election model code of conduct was in force, the Government should be held accountable collectively for the Chief Minister ought to know when any substantial amount of fund is released. As the committee constituted to probe the issue is headed by a Government officer, it is hard to expect that the probe would do justice, Gaikhangam remarked. He added that justice can be done to the issue if the probe committee is headed by a retired Judge of the High Court.
