Mail News Service
Imphal, Mar 1: Congress President Gaikhangam today said the decision of the ECI to conduct repoll in 67 polling stations on Mar 4 is a welcome state. He however said the decision seems to have been reached under intense pressure. Gaikhangam addressing a press conference at Congress office said Congress party and workers are prepared for the repoll.
The Congress party made complaints within the stipulated time with proof of NSCN(IM) cadres casting votes for candidates they supported. No repoll will be done in such polling stations he added. Ten political parties except the Congress went to Delhi to meet ECI officials and the next day after the meeting repoll decision was taken. The complaints by some parties were done after two weeks of the election.
The non Congress political parties had demanded that there should be no repoll and after considering the matter it suddenly demanded repoll. The Congress is a responsible party and will abide by the decision taken by the ECI he added. The ECI however should ensure that free and fair poll is done in the polling stations where repoll will be held the Congress chief demanded. It is not a question of adequate security but a question of taking actions against those who try to disturb poll process he said. Most of the time the security personnel on poll duties simply watch and not act he added.
The Congress party will also not align with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) which works only for a particular tribe , Naga he announced. The aims and objectives of the NPF are against the wishes of the Congress and the people of Manipur he added. The NPF threatens the emotional and territorial integrity of Manipur he added.
Regarding the decision of the CPI to break ties with the Congress he said the CPI must be having its own reason for breaking the ties but it would have been better if the CPI had aired its grievances when it was in the government for the last ten years.
He said speculations can not be made everytime a leader goes to Delhi. There is no leadership tussle and the issue has to be decided by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) he added.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/no-leadership-tussle-within-congress-security-personnel-on-poll-duty-should-act-not-watch-gaikhangam/
