Supporters of BJP candidate O Henry and JD-U candidate Th Arunkumar clashed over alleged proxy voting by the BJP candidate at Wangkhei constituency, Imphal East during the first phase polling on Monday. Following the incident, large supporters of JD-U stormed the gate of the polling station and demanded re-poll in the constituency.
The clash took place at around 1.30 pm at the polling station 15/13-Kabo Leikai Nongpok (C) located at RK Sanatombi Vidyalaya Primary School, North AOC in Imphal East. It occurred when around 300 of the total 457 electors had cast their votes at the polling station. Several workers of both the parties sustained injuries in the clash.
Amid the tension, the polling process continued with the security personnel limiting the entry of electors from the gate of the school.
Both the candidates visited the spot to take stock of the prevailing situation, however the BJP candidate declined to issue a statement on the incident, saying that it is too early to comment as he is not fully aware of what is really happening inside the polling station.
Speaking to the media, Arunkumar alleged that the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the polling station along with the inner agents of BJP had negotiated and exercised proxy voting of nearly 300 plus votes.
“After my volunteers came to know about the incident from my inner agent, tension erupted between my supporters and those involved in the proxy voting,” he explained.
Although the government calls for “free and fair election,” there is only “free” but no “fair” in reality, he said, condemning such illegal acts during the election process. A complaint had been lodged to the authority concerned, he added.
