Fate of 154 candidates sealed ** Tuliram predicts clean sweep
HT Bureau
DIPHU, June 8: Sporadic incidents of violence, chaos and losing voting stamps were reported during the polling for Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) election in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.
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There are 154 candidates in fray for 26 MAC constituencies spread in the two hill districts of Assam.
Voting started at 7:30 am on Wednesday and ended at 4:30 pm as per the timing of voting scheduled by Assam State Election Commission.
Ballot papers were used in voting as the use of electronic voting machines was not enacted by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
There were reports of several untoward incidents taking place across the two hill districts. Several voters could not cast their votes as their names were missing from the voters list.
The chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang exercised his franchise with his wife Kache Teronpi at Artukekang LP School in Artukekang village, West Karbi Anglong.
Coming out from the polling station after casting his vote the CEM said, “BJP will win all 26 seats. In the last MP and MLA elections the BJP had won with a huge margin. Now in this KAAC election also 26 out of 26 seats will go to BJP.”
He asserted that his victory in Bithung-Rengthama was confirmed.
On the other hand, the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) candidate Bikrom Hanse, the rival candidate of Ronghang, while informing media persons said that there is poll rigging in Bithung Rengthama. He alleged that his polling agents in different polling stations were beaten up. There is a total failure of the district administration in handling the election process, he said.
It may be mentioned here that Bithung Rengthama MAC constituency has only two candidates i.e., Tuliram Ronghang and APHLC’s Bikrom Hanse as the other candidates had withdrawn their nominations.
Hanse said, “One polling officer has dragged my polling agent outside from the voting room. At Tumpreng seeing a voter casting on the symbol of ‘torchlight’ the election symbol of APHLC, the polling agent of BJP did not allow the voter to cast his vote. At No. 1 Karbi Rongsopi, Indra Nagar and Hanthor Arong polling stations. My polling agents were chased out from the voting room by BJP polling agents.”
“I want to inform the law and order authorities and ASEC, why the people of Bithung Rengthama are ignorant about what a free and fair election is? In Bithung Rengthama democracy is dead. It is ruled by a one party system,” Hanse said.
At Daldali Garo Basti LP School (polling station 20) under Dhansiri MAC constituency in Karbi Anglong, it was alleged that somebody had taken away the stamp used for stamping the ballot paper. The voters there while speaking to media persons alleged that it happened when the BJP candidate, Tilottama Hasnu visited the polling station. The voters could not say who had taken it.
At Dhenta Engti polling station under Langhin MAC constituency, Karbi Anglong, the voters have alleged that police personnel, Pradip Kumar Rai, on duty with the district enforcement team had reportedly asked the voters to vote for the BJP.
The angry voters manhandled him; however the other personnel pulled him away from the crowd. The angry voters demanded the arrest of Rai as he being a policeman cannot campaign for a particular party. It was alleged the police personnel was in an inebriated condition.
At Punja LP and ME School polling stations under Duar Amla MAC Constituency ballot boxes were thrown out and damaged and ballot papers were burned by angry voters. The incident erupted as the stamp used for stamping the ballot paper had gone missing. After a few moments, police personnel found the stamp inside the casting room itself.
The angry mob damaged the ballot box and burnt down ballot papers. The DC and SP of West Karbi Anglong had to reach the polling station to bring the situation under normal. Re-polling has been ordered.
In 13 Langthat polling stations under Kopili MAC constituency in West Karbi Anglong, it was found that 30 voters from Sotro village could not exercise their franchise as their names were not in the voters list.
The secretary, I/c Propaganda of Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), Daniel Teron said the ASDC will play a major role in the formation of the next government at KAAC.
He said, “Voting was not good for the voters of the entire Karbi Anglong as the ruling BJP has been distributing money even in the queue at the various Polling Stations today. Things have gone wrong in Dhentaghat and Daldali. I don’t want to say that this is a free and fair poll.”
An APHLC candidate from Lumbajong MAC constituency after casting his vote said that his party will win from Lumbajong and Singhason MAC constituencies. President of APHLC, JI Kathar is contesting from Singhason.
“Our stand is clear and we want separate rules of KAAC and deletion of non-tribal voters from the voter list,” Timung said.
Nilip Democratic Forum backed Independent candidate Avinush Ronghang said there was poll rigging in some polling stations. If there is no change of ballot boxes then NDF is sure to win in Nilip, he said.
Johny Timung, BJP candidate of Lumbajong MAC constituency said he is winning for sure. Votes from town areas will be garnered, more votes will come from Langsoli-et, Borlangpher and Theso Ajur.
He cast his vote at Theso Ajur polling station.
At the end of polling at 4:30 pm, the poll percentage in 10 MAC constituencies, Lumbajong, Dhansiri, Singhason, Langfer, Phuloni, Langhin, Korkhanti, Mahamaya, Nomati and Howraghat was 79 percent.
Bokajan LA Constituency which has 7 MAC constituencies, the polling percentage at the end of the poll was 70%.
