Imphal, February 06: Even as 600697 voters are set to exercise their franchise rights to decide the fate of 77 candidates in the first three polls on February 8, the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district, Dr Prem today suspended 12 polling officials for dereliction of duty.

When The Sangai Express contacted the DC, the officer said that 35 polling officials including presiding officers, polling officers and peons were despatched for poll duty to Tadubi Assembly Constituency, Mao Assembly Constituency and Karong Assembly Constituency today.

However later it came to light that 12 officials had not reported for duty/were found reporting late for duty, said the DC and added an order has been issued to place them under suspension.

Subsequently arrest warrants against the said officials have also been issued.

With the first phase polling set to be held on February 8, campaigning came to a close at 3.30 pm as per the order of the Election Commission of India.

Altogether, 600697 voters will decide the fate of 77 candidates spread across 19 Assembly Constituencies in Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal districts.

Thoubal district with 10 Assembly Constituencies has the highest number of candidates with 38 in the fray while Ukhrul with the least number of ACs at three has 11 candidates.

Senapati district including Sadar Hills sub-division has 28 candidates in the fray fighting for six Assembly seats.

Some of the prominent candidates in the fray for the first phase poll include the Chief Minister, O Ibobi who is contesting from Thoubal AC and Khangabok AC, Victor Keishing son of Rajya Sabha MP Rishang from Phungyar AC, Francis Ngajokpa from Tadubi AC etc.

With 10 Assembly Constituencies, Thoubal district has the highest number of voters with 2,57,693 registered voters, followed by Senapati district with 2,43, 170 and Ukhrul with 99,834. Out of the 297 polling stations in Thoubal district, 151 have been identified as hyper sensitive and 146 as sensitive while at Ukhrul, 73 polling stations have been classified as hyper sensitive and 65 as sensitive.

At Senapati district, 47 polling booths have been named as hyper sensitive and 232 as sensitive.

The two districts of Ukhrul and Senapati (excluding Sadar Hills) will see the UNC backed candidates square off with Congress candidates.