Re-poll likely in some polling stations
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 19 2024:
With the first phase of the 18th Lok Sabha in the state on Friday marked by widespread incidents of violence allegedly instigated by armed men and EVM destruction, repoll is likely in some polling stations.
A total of 47 assembly segments went to the polls on Friday which include 32 assembly segments of Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency and 15 assembly segments falling under Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency.
The rest of the assembly segments in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.Voting for the first phase began from 7am and officially ended at 4pm though voting at some polling stations continued till 6.30pm.Voting in assembly segments falling under Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency went off peacefully largely but there are numerous complaints of violence in voting at assembly segments falling under Inner Manipur constituency.
As per report from CEO Manipur, voting percentage in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency reached 61.98 percent as of 5 pm Friday and 72.32 per cent in Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency thereby averaging 68.62 percent.
As people lined up for their turn for voting in front of polling stations from early morning, commotions occurred at many polling stations particularly in Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur districts as unidentified armed men attempted to capture booth.
While polling agents of INC and RPI (A) candidates were threatened and disallowed to seat inside at several polling stations, armed men even opened fire at some polling stations.
Voting at some polling stations had to be stopped as enraged voters destroyed EVMs.
As per latest updated report from DEO Thoubal, voting went off peacefully in all the assembly segments of Thoubal district and polling teams already depositing the EVMs by late Friday evening.
The report also mentioned that poll percentage in the district would be above 74.77 but yet to be finalised.
Electors displaced by the ongoing violence and currently taking shelter in different relief camps also cast their votes at two polling stations opened at two relief camps.
A total of 312 displaced voters out of 414 voters of Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency exercised their franchise at Wangjing Kodompokpi sports complex polling station while 16 out of 17 displaced voters of Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency voted at Rice Research Station, Khangabok relief camp polling station.
Voting in all the assembly segments of Kangpokpi district falling under Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency also ended peacefully.
Notably, there are 20,28,784 electors for two parliamentary constituencies of Manipur and 9,80,855 of them are male and remaining 10,47,929 are female.
The state also has 14,152 differently abled electors, 239 transgender voters and 22,491 electors above 85 years of age.
A total of 2,955 polling stations across the state were prepared for the 18th Lok Sabha election.
Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency has a total of 9,89,887 electors which include 4,73,531 male, 5,16,150 female and 206 transgender and a total of 1319 polling stations were prepared for voting on Friday.
Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency has a total of 10,36,736 electors which include 5,06,147 male, 5,30,556 female and 33 transgender.
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