Improper arrangement at Lamphel DC office complex leaves many dejected
IMPHAL, May 7: After the scrutiny of nomination papers for the June 1 Autonomous District Council election today, the authorities declared valid the papers of 557 candidates out of the total 571 nominations filed.
The respective returning officers conducted the scrutiny at the Deputy Commissioner Imphal West office complex at Lamphel today.
Scrutiny was conducted in the presence of the candidates and representatives of political parties.
Inside the Deputy Commisioner`™s premises, only two rooms were allotted for the scrutiny process of 571 candidates from 144 constituencies of six Autonomous Hill Districts Councils.
This created a massive traffic jam for more than two hours in and around the area and mobility of the public including the intending candidates were gravely constraint.
The two dark halls were jammed packed without any sitting arrangement even for the candidates except the election officers.
The officials had to use mobile phone lights to read the names of candidates.
The media was initially denied entry by the police into the hall screening candidates from Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul leading to a brief scuffle, but later allowed access.
Meanwhile, the SDO/Purul Angangchou Singh who was acting as the returning officer of the constituency had left the premises before 1 pm even as the constituency`™s BJP candidate K John arrived after travelling 134 kms.
The concern SDO, however, soon came back to the premises after several communications. Declaration certificate after scrutiny is still delayed for candidates of Chandel and Ukhrul districts.
`Essentially the scrutiny for the autonomous district council election should have been done in the respective blocks. And even if they could not arrange at the block level it should have been arranged at the district headquarter.` observed W Morung Makunga, Former Minister, NPF State advisor.
He continued, however, they have shifted the entire process to the State capital on the pretext of security reason for some candidates.
`The state arrangement is pathetic without even separate rooms for different districts, with crowded entrances and exits creating avoidable commotions and anxiety among the people.`
`Such harassing process is an insult to the tribals and implies a total disregard for the hill citizens.` he claimed.
A Congress candidate from Ukhrul district Ngachonmi Chamroy shared apprehension stating, `Pressure from non- state actors`™ is creating anxiety and such trends should be discouraged in democracy.`
`Police should have made better security arrangements to manage such a huge crowd` he said regarding the commotion during the initial part of the process today.
Peter Rangnamei, a veteran activist from Senepati district said, `It is very inconvenient and has created a lot of commotion among the candidates and supporters.`
`The government could have easily made the arrangement in the districts rather than compelling all candidates to travel this far without even proper arrangement to sit.`
`It is unfortunate that the police had to deal with the public with such disrespect, pushing and beating us. And in the absence of proper sound system, shouting to such a huge crowd is not audible and increases the commotion in the mob` he said.
`Such avoidable inconveniences are markers of ill-treating the hill people.`
Th. Shimreichon Langhu, a woman candidate from Chandel district said, `We have been standing since morning after travelling for so many hours. I am so exhausted!`
Another candidate from Tamenglong on condition of anonymity said `I came from Oinamlong travelling 172 kms and have been waiting for my turn. Such pathetic arrangement was not anticipated but we are shocked at the disrespect meted out to us by the process.`
Paulhring Langhu former ANSAM president said, `We witness such crowded commotion without any special arrangement to treat candidates officially. The State could have made better arrangement to avoid such attitudes meted out to the candidates today who had travelled from so far.`
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/557-nominations-declared-valid-after-scrutiny/