Cong urges poll panel to ensure free & fair elections in Manipur

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) A day before the second phase of Assembly elections in Manipur, the Congress party on Friday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure free and fair polls as it has accused the ruling BJP of indulging in ‘hooliganism’ tactics. Senior Congress leaders- Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid on Friday met the top brass of the poll panel and raised various issues pertaining to the Manipur elections. Among the issues also include alleged payment of over 15 crore by the state government to ban militant groups under suspension of operation (SoO) and termed it as violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). “Government made a payment of around Rs 15 crore to underground organizations on February 1 and Rs 95 lakh on March 1. We have informed the Election Commission. They have sought a report from the state government,” Jairam Ramesh, who is the party’s Manipur observer, said. He further said, “For 12-18 months no payments were being made. Now they are making the payments just before elections. This is a violation of MCC.” Meanwhile, the senior Congress leader in a tweet said, “The BJP’s gundagardi (hooliganism) tactics have made a mockery of the Phase-1 polls in Manipur.”