The Janata Dal United (JD-U) Manipur on Thursday alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using SoO UG groups to intimidate people to forcibly vote for the BJP and termed it a "direct act of snatching the franchise of voters".
 
The people of Behiang and Guitekhul under Singhat AC in Churachandpur are warned by SoO groups of facing unwanted consequences if they fail to give 98 per cent of the votes to the BJP, Manipur JD-U general secretary Maisnam Dorendro told reporters in Imphal.
 
Alleging that the BJP in Kangpokpi, Khangabok and Lilong ACs has been attacking JD-U candidates and supporters, he said complaints against poll-related crimes had been lodged to the concerned election officers and to the ECI, but no action has been taken so far.

Saying that the use of muscle and money power in elections is a sign of a candidate's weakness, Dorendro appealed to voters to not get lured by money and muscle power. "Don't lose the opportunity to make a positive change in the state by choosing JD-U in the ensuing election," he said.
 
The general secretary appealed to the ECI to announce Singhat AC as a hypersensitive area and initiate action against those who break the law.