Congress Wins Both Seats in Arunachal Pradesh
May 17, 2009
The Indian National Congress (INC) won both seats in Arunachal Pradesh following India’s 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were unable to retain these parliamentary seats.
The winning Congress candidates are as follows:
– Arunachal West: Takam Sanjay.
Sanjay won by 1,314 votes, closely followed by BJP candidate Khiren Rijuju.
– Arunachal East: Ninong Ering.
Ering won by a clear 68,449 votes. The BJP candidate was Tapir Gao.
Also, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance will lead India’s government for a second term. It is expected that Dr. Manmohan Singh will again be elected as Prime Minister.
Launch of Cleanliness Drive in Aalo
May 13, 2009
The Deputy Commissioner of West Siang has implemented a 15-day cleanliness drive in Aalo from 18 May to the first week of June 2009.
DC Amjad Tak has also advised the sector secretary to regulate bamboo plant cutters, and meat and fish sellers in Aalo.
In addition, DC Amjad Tak has ordered the following:
(1) Shopkeepers are now obliged to keep dustbins in front of their shops.
(2) Polythene bags are banned, due to the fact that they cause blocked drains.
Residents are being asked to participate and share the responsibility for keeping Aalo clean.
BJP Accuses ECI of Bias Towards Congress
May 12, 2009
The BJP has stated that it does not accept the ECI’s findings of no vote rigging by Congress during the 16 April Lok Sabha polls in Arunachal Pradesh. BJP’s Kiren Rijiju has indicated that the party will soon file a case against the ECI for refusing its demand for a repoll at the Mukto and Palin assembly constituencies.
With regard to the Palin constituency, Rijiju alleges that voting was done in the name of dead people.
Also, in violation of election commission rules, Rijiju states the BJP did not receive notification of the enrollment of additional voters.
ECI Finds No Evidence of Vote Rigging
May 10, 2009
As previously reported, the BJP has accused the ruling Congress Party of electoral fraud in the poll held on 16 April in Arunachal Pradesh. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rejected the BJP’s demand for a repoll in 65 voting booths.
Alok Shukla, the Deputy Election Commissioner, stated there were a number of reasons why the votes exceeded 100%. Shukla’s explanations, as per The Times of India, are as follows:
He gave the example of one polling station where 108% polling was alleged to have taken place. Shukla said this polling station had only 37 voters and all of them voted. On top of that, as per EC rules four poll staff also voted. Polling staff is given election duty certificate to cast their vote at the booth they are stationed at. “If we take four poll staff over and above the 37 voters it becomes more than 8% and the entire thing looks scandalous,” he explained.
Shukla also pointed out that a lot of names are added in the electoral roll even after the final publication as part of the process of continuous updation. Therefore, the number of registered electors was more than what the complainant gave, he said.
The results of India’s general election will be announced on 16 May 2009.
Police Foil NSCN-IM’s Plan to Rob Bank
May 8, 2009
Police state they intercepted a plan by the NSCN’s Isak-Muivah faction to rob the Rural Bank at Kamba. Yomjum Gongo, a member of the separatist group, was found carrying a M20 pistol on him.
Gongo admitted that he and four other members of the NSCN-IM were planning to rob the Bank, which is located about 20km from Aalo, West Siang District. The police have observed that many youths from West Siang are being recruited and trained at Camp Hebron, which is the general headquarters of the NSCN.
An extract from an article in The Telegraph states:
Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Mukut Mithi cautioned New Delhi that if the activities of the Isak-Muivah group, which is under a ceasefire agreement with the Centre, were not checked, the peaceful state would turn into a haven for the Naga militant outfit.
There have been reports that the NSCN imposes extortion demands on businesses and villagers. In 2001, stated-owned Oil India Ltd shut down its operations at the Khumsai oil well after the NSCN served an extortion notice of Rs 6 million.
More Women Than Men Voting in Arunachal Pradesh
May 6, 2009
In Arunachal Pradesh, more women than men are casting their votes in India’s 15th general election. The Business Standard reports that:
According to Papum Pare District Election Officer, Bidol Tayeng, out of a total 8,379 votes cast in 36 polling stations at Sagalee, 4,040 were by males and 4,379 by females.
The election officials here said this pattern had been reflected in other segments also, but could not provide the statistics.
Bear in mind that according to the 2001 census, the State’s ratio is 901 females per 1000 males.
In separate news, The Times of India reports that the BJP is demanding a repoll in 65 of the voting booths in Arunachal Pradesh. These booths produced “more than 100%” voting.
It will be interesting to see what transpires next.