Yaiskul by-election concludes peacefully
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2009: Amid tight security measures and large turn-out of electorates by-election to the Yaiskul Assembly Constituency concluded on a peaceful note today.

According to official record, the percentage of voting was 83.48 .

Untimely demise of Congress MLA elangbam Kunjeshore Singh had necessitated conduct of the byelection with fortunes of four candidates sealed by the Yaiskul voters.

Even though official polling hour was from 7 am insignificant number of voters could be seen arriving to cast vote at polling stations in the early hours probably due to prevailing chilly weather condition.

At some polling stations not a single voter was sighted.

Different scenes of polling process during the by-election to the Yaiskul assembly constituency held on December 19, 2009

However, the voting trend gained momentum from around 10 am with people seen waiting in long queues to exercise their franchise right.

With adequate deployment of central security force personnel in all the polling stations voters were frisked before entering into the polling zone and were also asked to vacate the voting area after casting vote.

The only problem that took place during the polling hours was on the issue of producing official voters' identity card as security force personnel deployed on duty at the home polling stations (14/10, 14/9) of independent candidate H Jayadeva barred entry of voters who could not produce the official document.

However, after about half an hour and the matter reached office of the State's Chief election officer the situation returned to normal as voters were asked to produce any of the 13 documents of identification prescribed by the election Commission to be eligible for casting votes.

Similar problems also cropped up at 14/1 and 14/2 polling stations of the assembly segment.

By around noon, average poll percentage in all the 28 polling stations was recorded in between 45 to 50 percent.

Inspite of four candidates filing nomination papers for the by-election Kunjeshore's son and Congress nominee E Suraj and H Jayadeva are considered by many as serious contenders.

Soubam Rajendrakumar of Janata Dal (Secular) and Hanjabam Jagdish Sharma (independent) are the other two candidates.

At the Wangkhei Girls High School (Left wing) polling booth which is the home polling station (14/13) of the INC candidate, out of total number of 827 registered voters 59 of them had already exercised their franchise right by about 8.35 am whereas similar study made at about 1 pm in the Imphal Public club building home polling station (13/10) of Jayadeva was found to be 542 votes cast against the total of 763 .

many voters inspite of their physical disability and advanced years were also seen escorted to the polling stations to enable them take part in the referendum.

At Ramji Prabhu polling station, two sitting Congress MLAs reportedly entered into the premises of the polling stations but were later advised to leave following instruction from the election officials on duty.

It may be noted that notification had been issued prohibiting entry of political workers, MLAs and Ministers into polling stations during polling hours.

apart from central security forces, unarmed State forces were also deployed at polling stations while top ranking State police officials were seen driving around vulnerable locations to ensure fair and peaceful conduct of the by-election.

At some polling stations voting continued beyond the 3 pm stipulation.

Fate of the candidates would be decided when counting is held on December 23 .

Yaiskul AC has 10,794 registered voters out of turnout of female voters has been recorded at 85 percent compared to 82 percent male voters.

In the 14/3 polling station at SEACO Club highest percentage of female (95 pc) voters was recorded with the same percentage of male voters turning out at 14/11 Brahmapur Nahabam Leikai Social Welfare Centre.

On the otherhand, 14/14 Yumnam Leikai IBSA Club polling station has the highest number of electorates at 1174 with 643 of them being females.

Meanwhile, security personnel prevented passage of vehicles along the Porompat Road on security reasons as the electronic voting machines were supposed to be deposited at Imphal East district Deputy Commissioner's office campus till the counting process is completed.

The counting is scheduled to commence from 8 am in seven tables of the Mini secretariat.

The EVMs will be kept in a secured room and will be guarded by central security forces.