Imphal, May 30 2010: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had an hour long interaction with the candidates who contested the elections to the District Councils today who are taking refuge at the Youth Hostel and Youth Centre, Khuman Lampak.

During the meeting Ibobi assured the District Council elections candidates that the State Government is doing everything for the smooth conduct of ADC elections' processes in the State and will ensure maximum protection for the safety of the ADC elections candidates.

The hour long interaction held at the Youth Hostel today started from 8.45 am.

The Chief Minister, after patiently hearing the pressures and alleged intimations received by the candidates, to withdraw their candidatures from some quarters assured them that the State Government will take up all measures to safeguard them.

He also informed that the Government had taken up all measures for the second phase elections slated for June 2 .

Atleast 85 candidates including two women candidates contesting the ADC elections are taking refuge presently in Imphal and they are contesting from four Naga dominated hill districts of Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul, according to an official source.

Out of the 85 candidates including two women candidates who are in the fray for ADC elections, 30 contenders are from Tamenglong district, 26 from Senapati district and 24 candidates including the two women candidatures from Ukhrul and five from Chandel district, added the source.

Following the alleged threats on the candidates' lives for their refusal to withdraw from the fray as demanded by various civil bodies who have rejected the elections, they are now taking shelter at a selected secure place, disclosed the official source.

There was the instance of kidnapping a Congress candidate in one of the ADC constituencies in Chandel (candidate of 13-Vomku ADC constituency, S Benthung Anal of Analkhul village of Chandel district) where the election was held on May 26 last, informed the source.

The source further said that the latest being the reports of a candidate in Ukhrul district escaping from the physical assault by some miscreants and reaching Imphal Saturday night.

Meanwhile, polling personnel for the 2nd phase elections to be conducted on June 2 next in four Naga dominated hill districts are now started leaving for their respective polling stations from today.

The second phase polling will be conducted in 184 polling stations in 30 ADC constituencies in the three districts.