Members of the Left and Secular Alliance attend the meeting in Imphal. Picture by UB Photos

Imphal, April 27: Though the voting process is over for the Inner Manipur seat and the state election authorities are preparing for counting of votes next month, the Left and Secular Alliance, main contender for the seat, is not going to remain silent over alleged widespread proxy voting by the Congress.

A team of the alliance, led by CPI state secretary and alliance candidate in Inner Manipur, Moirangthem Nara Singh, is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to complain against “proxy voting” by the Congress.

“We will press for excluding polling stations that polled more than 90 per cent from counting of votes or disqualify the Congress candidate if elected for using unfair means,” Nara Singh said.

The eight-party alliance, which comprises the CPI, CPM, Forward Block, RSP, BSP, JD (S), Shiv Sena and the Peoples Democratic Alliance, today organised a “sensitisation” meeting here to make people aware of the alleged electoral malpractices committed by the ruling Congress.

“The Congress looted the voting rights of the people, using money and muscle powers. More than 90 per cent polling was possible only with rigging and proxy voting,” Nara Singh said.

Ksh. Shanta, convener of the alliance, said of the 1,256 polling stations in Inner Manipur, 112 booths polled more than 90 per cent while 26 polling stations polled more than 95 per cent.

Twelve polling stations in Thoubal Assembly constituency, represented by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, polled more than 95 per cent while four polling stations in Nambol Assembly constituency, represented by N. Loken of the Congress, polled more than 95 per cent.

Inner Manipur went to the polls on April 17 with an overall poll percentage of 75.01.

Repoll was held on April 22 at Moijing polling station in Ibobi Singh’s constituency where 773 votes were cast against the total voter strength of 771.

Shanta said an examination of the documents maintained by presiding officers revealed that the marks of forefingers were found instead of thumb impressions on documents in many polling stations, indicating proxy voting.

“People should not remain silent when they had been denied voting rights by the ruling party, ministers and MLAs. We will fight back and people should come out to support us,” Nara Singh said.

CPM state secretary Sarat Salam alleged that the Congress had hijacked people’s mandate by indulging in widespread rigging.

Nara Singh is having a neck-and-neck fight with Thokchom Meinya Singh of the Congress, who is seeking re-election for the third time.