Voter turn out tentatively pegged at over 70 percent
Outer voters seal fate of 9 candidates amid minor tremors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 16 2009: The fate of nine candidates in the Outer Parliamentary Constituency was sealed today with over 70 percent of the registered voters turning out to exercise their franchise rights amid tight security and apprehension of violence.

The polling was by and large peaceful except for some minor incidents of booth capturing and impersonation.

The 70 percent report is however tentative as till the time of filing this report the official figure could not be worked out as night movement of polling officials is strictly prohibited.

Moreover polling officials on duty in far flung places could not touch base with the district headquarters due to poor communication network.

Registered voters queue up at different polling stations to exercise their franchise rights to elect the candidate of their choice during the election in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency on April 16

Polling started from 7 am and went on till 4 pm, though reports reaching here said that voters at Thoubal district who had managed to make their way to the enclosure of the polling booths were allowed to vote till past the deadline.

Long queues inside the enclosure of the polling stations could be seen.

Though the polling went off peacefully, repoll has been ordered in at least three polling stations.

The repoll to be held include 44/40 Nungshong Khullen in Ukhrul district, 53/9 (A) Tamenglong district headquarters and 52/48 Dolong Khunou in Kangpokpi ADC.

Speaking to The Sangai Express State Chief Electoral Officer Shambhu Singh said that contrary to earlier apprehensions, voting in the Outer has passed off peacefully save for some minor incidents.

"We were apprehensive that repoll may be necessary in many polling stations, but since there has been no major incident, repoll may be held in only a few polling stations," he added.

Getting into specific mode, the CEO said that repoll will be held at each polling station at Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul and added that repoll may also be held at some polling stations in Churachandpur district.

All necessary steps have also been taken up to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the second phase election to be held in Inner Manipur on April 22, added the CEO.

Repoll may be held either on May 18 or 19, said sources from the State Election office.

CCpur (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 60 pc) : Relatively peaceful.

Voters turned out since early morning to exercise their franchise in relatively small numbers but increased steadily, marking an approximate poll percentage of 60 plus with at least two likely re-poll.

Though relatively peaceful, polling in some adjoining villages allegedly witnessed threats from UG groups, but the security forces acted on time.

Surprisingly, some of the polling stations recorded a record breaking poll percentage of 99! .

To cite a few examples, Bijang Loubuk recorded the highest number with 99.05 percent.

Polling Stations under 59 Saikot 59/44 and 59/49 also recorded 99 percentage.

Despite some polling stations recording exceptionally huge poll percentage, DEO/Churachandpur Sumant Singh told The Sangai Express that he is yet to receive information from the interior areas and thus could only approximately put the over-all poll percentage to 60 plus for now.

Tamenglong (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 70 pc) : Polling was stalled for a while at 53/9 (A) Tamenglong Higher Secondary School following disturbances given by some elements at about 9 am today.

The EVMs at 52/14 Katiyang and 54/18 Luwanglong conked out and it is still to ascertained whether repoll will be held or not.

Senapati (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 80 pc) : Tension reigned at Karong polling station resulting in some elements yanking off the cord of the EVM.

Unidentified miscreants stopped voters from exercising their rights in polling stations located between 47/1 to 47/4 at Koide.

Armed miscreants abducted polling personnel, including the Presiding Officer but they were rescued by women folk.

Additional security forces, Assam Rifles, were sent to the said places.

Reinforcement was also sent to Phaibung following reports of miscreants disturbing the polling process.

Trouble broke out at 51/48 Dolang Khunou after miscreants broke the EVM.

Chandel (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 75 pc) : Largely peaceful although it was held under tight security arrangements.

However, in some polling stations some people were seen casting votes representing the whole village or groups as usual.

As such, the usual scene of queues of people waiting for turns to cast votes as observed in most other polling stations was absent in these polling stations.

Yet, rate of poll percentage was amazingly high.

Moreover, three/four voters entering the polling booth at the same time were also observed.

At some polling stations in Chandel district, there were agents of only one single candidate.

Some people were also seen exercising their franchise without identity cards prescribed by the Election Commission of India.

Ukhrul (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 70 pc) : Polling was by and large peaceful though some miscreants disturbed the poll process at some places necessitating repoll at 44/40 Nungshong Khullen.

Unidentified miscreants destroyed an EVM at the said polling station.

Thoubal (tentatively fixed turn out pegged at 70 pc) : By and large, polling in the seven Assembly segments of Thoubal district went off peacefully.

Although, voter turn out was low in the morning, a large number of voters came out in the afternoon to cast their votes.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and his wife MLA Landhoni cast their votes at Thoubal Athokpam polling station.

Electorate of the seven Assembly segments of Thoubal exercised their voting rights at 206 polling stations.

Jiribam : By and large peaceful, Significantly 110 voters of Rangkiakilong village, Tousem sub-division abstained from voting after it came to light that their voters ID were issued in the name of Sehjan village which is non-existent.

Chairman of Rangkiakilong said that this is an insult to the people of the village as Sehjang had been abandoned earlier.