Manipur polls: Observers find impersonation of voters

Election Commission observers and Manipur election officials claimed to have found impersonation of voters in the January 28 Assembly polls in the state.

Official sources said the findings followed checking of photos of voters by three EC observers and Manipur election officials after nearly 76 complaints were received from candidates.

The complaints had been received from Saikot, Kangpokpi and Karong in Senapati district and also from Chandel Assembly constituency -- all in hill districts. It was found that some votes of male voters were cast by women and vice versa, they said.

This was confirmed by comparing the photos of voters taken during the casting of polls to those in the electoral rolls, the sources said, adding so far 35 complaints had been looked into.

Complaints had also been received from some valley districts too and they were being examined, they said.

It was, however, not immediately known whether there would be re-polling at these polling stations.

Of the total 17 lakh electorate in the state, about 13 lakh voters had exercised their franchise in the Assembly elections, counting for which would be taken up on March 6.