Bye-poll concludes peacefully; 90.76% turn out
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 14 2011:
Amidst tight security, bye-elections for the Konthoujam assembly constituency ended peacefully by and large.
Voter turn out was recorded as high as 90.76% .
Voters were seen standing in a bee-line in most of the polling stations even after the polling ended at 3 pm.
Polling officials had to allow all those voters who were already in the queue to cast their votes.
Of the total 24,601 eligible voters, 22328 used their franchise, according to an official statement.
This is 90.76% of the total eligible voters of the constituency.
The highest turn out of voters was recorded at 18/7 Ngairangbam polling station.
Out of 811 voters in this polling station, 775 representing 95.57% voters turned out.
Poll percentage at other polling stations were recorded from 84 to 95% .
With 703 out of 843 voters (83.40%), the lowest turn out of voters was recorded at 18/4 Khumbong polling station.
Till 1 pm, the overall turn out was recorded 57 %.
No untoward incidents were reported during the polling hours except for a delay in the start of polling due to problems affecting EVMs (Electronic Voting Machine) at some polling stations.
In these polling stations polls began after the EVMs were replaced.
Reports of some controversy over the production of voter identity cards came from some polling stations.
But, the controversies were settled by the polling officials.
Central security personnel allowed voters to enter the polling booths after verifying their identity cards at the entry points of all the booths.
The voters who did not bring their identity cards were asked to furnish an affidavit citing reasons for not carrying them.
Sources said barring isolated incidents of minor altercations, polling proceeded peacefully in the constituency, where three candidates are in the fray.
The fate of the three candidates, Dr S Ranjan of Congress, K Sarat of Trinamool Congress and independent candidate Kh Ranjit, have been kept sealed at the strong room of the Imphal West DC office where the counting will start at 7 am on February 17 .
Election authorities had decided to utilise only central paramilitary forces in the bye-poll.
They were assisted by around 100 armed and unarmed state security personnel.
State security forces also conducted patrolling on the periphery of the constituency and sensitive areas within the constituency to prevent any untoward incidents.