Twenty two Assembly constituencies went to polls in the second and final phase of Assembly elections in Manipur. The focus was on Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s Assembly seat Thoubal where he faces challenge by rights activist Irom Sharmila.
A total of 98 contestants vied for the seats spread across the valley districts of Thoubal and the hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.
6.25 p.m.: With an estimated 86% turnout in the second and final phase, Manipur Assembly elections come to a close. According the EC it's highest voting percentage since 2009.
5 p.m.: Manipur records a high voter turnout of 83% till 3 p.m. Manipur Chief Electoral officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan says the percentage was expected to go up as long queues are still visible outside several polling booths. “We are waiting for the final figures,” he tells PTI. Polling was peaceful except a few incidents of violence outside polling booths in Tamenglong Assembly segment, he says.
2.11 p.m.: 67% votes were polled till 1p.m. in the second and final phase of Manipur Assembly election today amid few incidents of violence.
“There were some incidents of violence in Tamenglong Assembly segment. But the incidents took place outside the polling booths. The police have taken appropriate action,” Chief Electoral officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan told PTI.
“The damaging of EVMs will not damage the chips inside the EVMs and the votes polled will not be affected. So there is nothing to worry as we have replaced them with new EVMs,” the CEO said.
2.10 p.m.: Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, who is contesting from Thoubal seat, cast his vote at a polling booth in Khangabok Assembly constituency at 7.15 a.m.
The Chief Minister’s son, Okram Surjakumar, who is contesting the Assembly elections for the first time from Khangabok constituency, also cast his vote at around 7.30 a.m.
98 candidates, including rights activist Irom Sharmila, are in the fray in this phase. Ms. Sharmila is pitted against the Chief Minister in Thoubal Assembly seat.
11:00 a.m.: A voter turnout of 31% was recorded till 10 a.m. No untoward incident has been reported in the first three hours of polling, State Nodal Officer (Elections) W Chandrakumar Singh said.
The state has a 19,02,562-strong electorate comprising 9,28,573 male voters and 9,73,989 female voters. There are around 45,642 new voters.
As many as 1,151 polling stations have been set up for the second and last phase of election to the 60-member Assembly.
The Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangement by deploying 280 companies of central police forces to keep the election free and fair.
