Peren, March 4 (MExN): The NDPP candidate from 7 Peren AC has called for re-poll at the constituency citing unfair conduct of election norms. Iherie Ndang, who went up against the NPF’s Chief Ministerial candidate TR Zeliang, wrote to the Election Commission of India today challenging the legitimacy of the result declared for the constituency on March 3, which went in favour of Zeliang.
Ndang, in his letter, highlighted purported rigging of EVMs, denying participation of his polling agents in the mandatory “mock poll” exercise, attempted booth capturing and NPF loyalists as counting officials.
“Prior to the start of polling… our polling agents/election agents were not invited for mock poll by the Presiding officer nor Mock Poll certificate received except for 7/36 polling station,” stated Ndang in the letter. Terming the exercise of mock poll as “most crucial to authenticate the validity of the EVM,” he held that the polling be declared null and void as per the guidelines of the election rules.
In places where he held the advantage, he alleged that “EVMs were reportedly broken down and replaced.” Alleging of “stage-managed” polling at Jalukie Town Sector A 7/11, he said that the counting for the polling station gave a “50-50 score percentage” as opposed to it being his stronghold.
He also claimed of Presiding Officers not issuing the mandatory “Account of Votes Recorded” after completion of polling in various stations. His polling agents not being informed, or not invited, during the sealing and opening of the “strong room” and unrestricted accessibility to the strong room, featured in the complaint.
Alleging of one person casting multiple votes with the intention to capture booths, he claimed that “such malpractices have been identified” in a number of places. Casting suspicion on the neutrality of officials, he alleged that counting officials were mostly active NPF loyalists. He further held that there was inconsistency in the “total vote casted and total vote counted” in as many as three polling stations.
