84.16 pc turnout in Yaiskul bye-poll; Result on Dec 23
Preparation for counting begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 19 2009: The bye-election to fill up a vacant seat in Manipur Legislative Assembly concluded by and large peacefully today with high turnout of voters of 84.16 % to decide the fate of four candidates in the fray.

With the peaceful conduct of the polling, election authority has started preparation for the counting which would be held on December 23 .

Security at the Imphal east DC office where the counting is to be conducted has also tightened by promulgating prohibitions under section 2 of the 144 CrPC.

The overall voting percentage voting was calculated at above 84.16 by the poll officials.

Thirty percent was recorded till 11 am while 52.92 percent at 1 pm.

Even though the polling hour concluded at 3 pm, voters who were already at queue continue to cast votes till late.

Women voters wait for their turn in the queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Yaiskul AC

In some polling stations, the voting commenced lately due to mechanical problems in the EVMs.

Voters turn out was low at the first hour of the polling which began from 7 am.

However, voters turned out at moderate rate at most of the polling stations around the noon and more turned out witnessed at the last hour of the polling.

Voters inside the polling station before the closure of the polling hour were allowed to cast vote till late.

Except some minor arguments over attempt to proxy voting, no major violence incident occurred during the exercise, the conduct of polls was by and large peaceful.

Due to communication gap, media persons covering the elections but later they were allowed to enter.

At the home poling station (14/13) of the Congress candidate, E Suraj, only 59 voters out of 827 cast vote till 8.30 am while at the home polling (14/10) of Jaydev who is considered to be the main contender 119 voters cast till 8.45 am.

When, security personnel at the polling station disallowed media persons to enter at the polling stations even though they possessed cards issued by the election authority, there erupted argument.

With the intervention of an officer of the BSF who arrived at polling station and relooked into the guidelines of the Chief Election Commission of India, media persons were allowed to entered but with strong instruction not to take photograph of voters casting vote at the EVMs.

Security forces conducted checking of I-cards and other documents in possession to the voters before they were allowed to proceed for voting.

Some arguments on the documents produced other than issued by the election authority also occurred at some polling stations.

Four candidates are in the fray to the bye-poll in 14-Yaiskul Assembly constituency of lying vacant after sitting Congress MLA, E Kunjeshwor in September this year.

Congress is fielding son of the deceased MLA, E Suraj.

Others candidates are Hanjabam Jaydev (Independent), Soubam Rajen (Janata Dal-Secular) and Aribam Jagadish (Independent).

All the EVMs have been deposited at the strong room at the Imphal East DC office Porompat under strict security protection this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Imphal east district magistrate M Lakshmikumar has promulgated prohibitions of gathering of five or more people and carrying deadly weapons under section 2 of the CrPC in the whole complex of newly constructed mini secretariat/ deputy commissioner office, Imphal east, Porompat.

The prohibition will be in force within the place bounded on the north Newly constructed SP, Imphal east office, Porompat Baruni road on the south, water supply office (PHED) east division, Porompat on the east and dairy famr (veterinary office, Porompat on the west.

The prohibition will be effective with immediate affect till the end of the election process, the order stated.