Arunachal Cong demands another repoll in 2 polling stations under Nacho Assembly constituency

APCC Vice President Toko Mina highlighted serious violations at the 22-Dingsar polling station, citing delays in the voting process and discrepancies between the recorded votes and the Register of Voters.

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded a repoll in 22-Dingsar and 45-Lengi polling stations under the 22-Nacho ST Assembly constituency alleging gross violations of the polling process during the repoll held on April 24. 

It may be mentioned here that repolling in these two polling stations along with 6 others were held on April 24 after voting was done on April 19 at these constituencies were declared void by the Election Commission of India (ECI) following reports of violence and booth snatching came to fore.

Demanding another repoll, APCC Vice President Toko Mina emphasized the importance of maintaining free and fair elections as mandated by the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.

In a letter to the Upper Subansiri District Election Officer on April 26, Toko Mina highlighted serious violations at the 22-Dingsar polling station, citing delays in the voting process and discrepancies between the recorded votes and the Register of Voters. 

She said that during the day of polling, the polling team arrived at 6:37 AM, while the official reporting time was scheduled for 4:30 AM. After the MLA mock poll and MP mock poll was completed, the real voting process began at 7:48 AM. Before taking a break at 11:02 am, the polling team checked the total number of votes cast up to that time. Inspection revealed that the EVM machine was displaying 235, however, in the Register of Voters, only 185 voters’ entries were done.

After the error was detected by the polling agent, the voting process was stopped and more than 100 youths around 45% of the total voters, standing in the queue for voting could not exercise their franchise. Even the polling agents could not cast their votes and the sealing of EVM machines were not done at the polling station, she added.

Similarly, polling agents at the 45-Lengi polling station were not allowed to supervise the process, and fake Aadhaar cards were being used there, said Mina.

A complaint has been filed with the Upper Subansiri District Election Officer concerning these anomalies, but because the Election Commission has not acted despite pleas for a halt and a repoll, more than a hundred voters have lost their right to vote, she added.

The APCC has urged urgent intervention from the Chief Electoral Officer of Arunachal Pradesh to ensure fair and impartial repolling at both polling stations.

Also Read: “I bow to citizens of Arunachal Pradesh…”: Arunachal CM Khandu thanks voters

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