Election not free or fair : Dr Bimol

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 19: The election today was not free and fair. If repoll is conducted in all polling stations where the conduct of the election has been violated, then "truth will win", said Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, INC's candidate for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.
Speaking to his supporters and media persons at his residence at Keishamthong Top Leirak in the evening after the voting concluded, Dr Bimol said he strongly condemns "hooligan and goon culture" and the violence today during the elections.
The massive occurrence of violence, goondaism and hooliganism and goons culture in the elections today was unprecedented, and the BJP's political culture in the State is far more dangerous than the party's culture in other States and at National level, he said.
"Seeing the wrongs that have been done by the Manipur BJP, those who had joined the RSS and BJP for its ideology would want to spit on the faces of these elements," said Dr Bimol.
To bring about a positive change in the society, such elements who go about wreaking havoc under the cover of masks must be stopped, he said.
Development can come when people are made aware and conscious and empowering them to judge rights from wrongs.
 However, the political culture that was manifested today and in the last few days before the elections have shown that some in power and their supporters take people for granted. They are using muscle power to scare people and lead them, he said.
While violence has taken place and the conduct of the polls have been violated, there is the need for the youth including women to come out openly for the "truth," he added.
"The elections today were not free and fair. If repoll is conducted in all polling stations where the conduct of the elections has been violated then 'truth' will win and people's true mandate will come out," he said.
Replying to a query from the media about absence of INC agents in some polling stations, Dr Bimol said many agents were threatened and forced to stay away from the polling stations. The election was not free or fair, he added.