Fate of 297 candidates sealed, poll percentage sketchy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 28, 2012: Violence continued even on polling day for the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly held today while final polling percentage could not be officially confirmed as polling was on till evening and various details need to be ascertained with regard to polling conducted in far flung and remote areas of the State.

with the exception of a few polling stations where elections will have to be re-conducted, votes were cast in all the polling stations spread across the state.

Repoll is also likely to be ordered as there had been report of destroying electronic voting machines and technical snags.

Moreover, voting continued hours after the official schedule of 3 pm for a number of people were still queuing up to exercise their democratic right till late evening.

According to information received from the office of Chief electoral officer the overall polling percentage might be in the 75 percent mark which would fall by a further 15 percent in the hill districts.

The source also maintained that in case repoll is needed the same might be conducted within a week's time.

To elect 60 members out of the total of 297 candidates, a relative healthy percentage of the adult populace exercised their franchise right in 2377 polling stations.

People queing up at one of the polling station to cast their precious votes Picture Coutesy: Poknapham

Out of the total of over 17 lakh eligible voters in the State, where 20 seats are in the hill districts, the number of female voters was 38,501 more than the males.

Service voters were accounted at 8723 out of which 1873 are females.

Lilong assembly constituency under Thoubal district had the highest number of candidates at nine while there are multiple seats contested by three candidates each.

While the polling ended on a relatively peaceful note after a violent commencement, at most of the polling venues voters complained of slackness in the voting process especially lengthy process in identification, possessing voter's slip and their photographing.

Compared to some hill districts, polling was held in a peaceful manner in the valley pockets with Bishnupur and Thoubal district recording 85 percent each.

Imphal East district: with 10 assembly constituencies scattered in the newest district polling has been put at a healthy 85 percent.

Imphal West: The district, having maximum number of assembly constituencies at 13 also witnessed, by and large, peaceful polling and a polling percentage of 85, as informed at 9 pm.

Ukhrul: Sketchy report has been received with regard to destroying of EVMs in some polling stations under Ukhrul district, having a total of three assembly constituencies.

The district recorded 62 percent polling, which is likely to vary as details are being awaited.

Senapati: Atleast two incidents of snatching of EVMs took place at polling stations under Tadubi AC in Senapati district, which has a total of seven assembly segments.

It is informed that some public chased the miscreants and managed to recover both the EVMs.

Despite no sign of manipulating the voting record in the said EVMs, new EVMs were used to resume the polling later in the day.

Polling was comparatively peaceful in other assembly constituencies, including at Sadar Hills.

It is also informed that 25 polling parties deployed in the interior areas have arrived at the district headquarters late in the evening.

Tamenglong: No votes were cast at Ajiuram polling station while at Thanagong and Khoupum Toudayang polling stations under Nungba assembly constituency repolling is likely due to complaints from rival parties.

Tamenglong district has three assembly segments.

The district recorded poll percentage of 60 as per latest report, which is likely to vary after final confirmation by the election authorities.

Churachandpur: With a total of six assembly segments in the district, polling percentage compared to past trend of voting in the range of 80-90 percent, in the district witnessed a low of 65 percent with election officials speculating that intense scrutiny of voters to check multiple or proxy voting might have discouraged miscreants from audacious acts.

Chandel: In chandel district where there are only two assembly constituencies, maximum violence has been reported from different polling stations.

In the first instance, stones were rained at the 42/50 Netaji Memorial English School polling station in Moreh town, allegedly by some women, which was followed by soon after another group of women destroying an electronic voting machine (EVM) at 42/60 Yaipha Thourang Thousillup Club polling station.

They reportedly entered the polling area pretending to cast vote.

Another destruction of EVM took place at 42/58 Dharmshala polling station but CRPF (147 Bn) personnel deployed there apprehended five women for their alleged involvement.

All five have been handed over to Moreh polling station.

Along with lodging a complaint to ADC, Moreh a delegation of community leaders proposed that re-polling be re-conducted at another polling station.

EVMs were also destroyed at 41/43 Chakpikarong Girls' High School, 41/23 Modi High School and at 41/31 polling station, all under Chandel AC.

Complaint with regard to destruction of an EVM at 41/58 Sarong polling station has also filed to the District Election Officer.

Contrary to report of NSCN (IM) cadres intimidating voters at 41/10 Liwa Sarei Primary School polling station, a media team upon reaching the venue found polling being held there in a peaceful manner.

Security force personnel deployed there, however, informed that two women were spotted confronting some voters this afternoon.

Even though mild commotion occurred between two groups, security forces managed to control the situation thereby ensuring that the polling proceeded smoothly.

There is no report of any untoward incidents from Bishnupur district having a total of six assembly constituencies and Thoubal Ac having 10 ACs.

PTI adds: Chief Electoral Officer P C Lawmkunga said as per preliminary official reports, 82 per cent of the 17.50 lakh electorate cast their votes even as details from the state's nine districts were awaited.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla said in New Delhi that the final poll percentage would be available only after receiving details from across the state.

As polling continued till late due to long queues inside polling booths, election officials hoped the turnout would be higher.

The state had witnessed a polling percentage of 84.7 per cent in the 2007 general assembly elections while it was lower at 67.8 per cent during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Today's voting saw the fate of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh (Thoubal), Forest Minister and Congress leader Th Debendra (Jiribam), Congress nominee and Speaker I Hemochandra Singh (Shingjamei), former chief minister and NCP chief Radhabinod Koijam (Thangmeiband) and Manipur people's party (MPP) leader and former deputy chief minister] L Chandramani Singh (Patsoi) sealed in EVMs.

A total of 279 candidates, including 15 women, were in the fray for the 60-member Manipur assembly.

The EC had set up 2,365 polling stations and appointed 19 general observers, nine police observers and 13 expenditure observers, besides 64 assistant expenditure observers and 135 micro observers for smooth and fair polls in the state.

While two helicopters were also pressed into service and video cameras used in these polls, live webcasting of polling was done in 60 polling stations.