Incidents of violence led to polling in 38 assembly constituencies in the first phase of Manipur Assembly elections on Monday, while 48.88 per cent of the nearly 12.09 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm, election officials said. Kangpokpi district recorded the highest voter turnout of 61.30 percent. Imphal West district, which has the highest number of constituencies, recorded 52.15 per cent voter turnout, while Imphal East recorded 46.11 per cent voter turnout.
Voting began at 7 am at 1,721 polling stations in five districts amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. He said that a total of 173 candidates, including 15 women, are in the fray. Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N Biren Singh were among the early voters in their respective constituencies of Sagolband and Hingang. He urged the people to exercise their franchise and maintain peace even as incidents of electoral violence were reported from different parts of the state.
At least one person was injured in a clash between two political parties in Churachandpur district. One EVM was damaged, which was later replaced. Alleged Congress workers vandalized a BJP polling booth in Kakwa area of Langthabal constituency of Imphal West district, while supporters of a rival group damaged a vehicle of an NPP candidate in Keirao assembly seat, though no one was involved in the incident. was not injured.
Security forces fired blank rounds to control the crowd at the New Keithelmanbi polling station in Kangpokpi district. This situation arose when the Congress accused the BJP of trying to capture booths. Normalcy has been restored and voting resumed after being disrupted for a few minutes. Officials said no one was injured in the incident. Police registered the case after a mob engaged in “election offense and harm by using firearms with common intention” in Funal Maring village of Imphal East district. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that a youth had gone to Churachandpur district to exercise his franchise, only to find that his vote had already been cast.
“Dennis Lalinzuol, a young resident of Churachandpur, went to the polling station today to exercise his democratic right, only to find that his vote had already been cast! This is not the only incident of malpractice.
Voters initially waited patiently for their turn in chalk-marked circles while maintaining social distancing. However, as the sun rose on their heads, many took refuge in the shadows, waiting for their turn to cast their votes. In some polling stations, including Soibam Leikai in Imphal East district, first-time voters were honored by election officials.
Victor Th, 20, a first-time voter, said, “I hope my vote will make a difference in choosing a competent representative from my Keishamthong constituency, who can focus on development and address social issues.” ” Prominent candidates in the first phase of elections are Chief Minister, Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister and NPP candidate Yumnam Joykumar and Manipur Congress President N Lokesh Singh. Of the 38 seats, 10 constituencies are in Imphal East, 13 in Imphal West, six each in Bishnupur and Churachandpur, and three in Kangpokpi district. Nine seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one seat for Scheduled Castes.
All women workers are voting at 381 polling stations. PWD personnel are stationed at a polling station in Churachandpur’s Saikot assembly seat. BJP has fielded all 38 seats, Congress with 35 candidates, NPP 27, JD(U) 28, Shiv Sena seven, RPI (Athawale) six, LJP (Ram Vilas) three. With the Kuki National Assembly and the Kuki People’s Alliance two each. 18 independents are also in the fray.
Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Aggarwal said that out of the total 173 candidates, 39 have criminal history. Hours before the assembly elections began, the Congress on Sunday night expelled its candidate from Wangoi constituency, Salam Joy Singh, from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect on disciplinary grounds.
The BJP formed the government in Manipur in 2017 with the support of the National People’s Party (NPP), the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). However, the saffron party is contesting all the seats alone this time. The Congress has forged alliances with CPI, CPI(M), Forward Bloc, RSP and Janata Dal (Secular). In the 2017 state elections, the oldest party emerged as the single largest party by winning 28 out of 60 seats.
Voting for the remaining 22 seats in the 60-member House will be held in the second phase on March 5 while the counting of votes will take place on March 10. All polling stations have been sanitized and circles have been marked outside polling stations. So that voters can maintain social distance while standing in the queue.
Other COVID protocols to be followed at polling stations include wearing of masks, using hand sanitisers and conducting thermal screening. Voting will end at 4 pm and COVID-19 patients can vote between 3 pm and 4 pm.
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