22 ACs in six districts to go to polls today
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, March 04 2022: A total of 22 assembly constituencies under six electoral districts namely Thoubal (10 ACs), Chandel (2), Ukhrul (3), Senapati (3), Tamenglong (3) and Jiribam (1) will go to the polls on Saturday in the second phase of election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

A total of 8,38,730 electors including 4,10,020 males, 4,28,679 females and 31 transgender voters will exercise their franchise in the Phase-II, out of which 20,511 are 80+ voters, 4849 are PwD and 480 are centenarian voters.

There are 1247 polling stations including 12 P-3 polling stations and 213 P-2 polling stations.

It is worth mentioning that 223 polling stations will be completely manned by all women polling personnel.

Notably, Thoubal assembly constituency will be manned by all women polling teams.

In all 4988 polling personnel would be deployed and all of them have reached their respective polling stations.

There will be 39 model polling stations.

CEO Manipur stated that voter slips are no longer stand alone identity documents, and hence voters shall require to produce one of the 12 identity documents approved by the Election Commission, which include EPIC card, Aadhaar card, MNREGA job card, passbooks with photograph issued by bank/post office, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, driving license, PAN card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian passport, pension document with photograph, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/state governments/ PSUs/public limited companies and official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs.

A total of 92 candidates including two women are in the fray.

Out of 92 candidates, 17 candidates have criminal antecedents.

The party wise numbers of candidates are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - 22, Indian National Congress (INC) - 18, Naga People's Front (NPF) - 10, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - 02, National People's Party (NPP) - 11, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) - 10, Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A) - 3, Shiv Sena - 02, one candidate each from CPI and Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Party (RJSP) and independent - 12 .

Arrangement for webcasting/videography have been made in all polling stations.

Adequate CAPF personnel have been deployed in all polling stations.

In addition, micro-observers have been deployed in all critical polling stations.

As done in Phase I elections, adequate arrangements have been made in all polling stations to ensure COVID safe election with involvement of ASHA and Anganwadi workers as well as provisions of safety kits.

Voters, who are COVID positive or are under quarantine, will be allowed to vote in the last hour between 3 PM to 4 PM.

Arrangements have been made on accessibility fronts as in Phase 1.Provision for pick up/drop facilities for PwD and aged electors are made available with wheelchair facility.

Besides, two volunteers would be engaged in each polling station for assisting voters.

Voter assistance booths have also been set up in all polling stations.

For both Phase I and II elections, out of a total of 21,944 postal ballots issued to service electors 2895 have exercised their franchise and marked PBs have been received by the returning officers concerned till date.

With respect to voters on election duty, 7010 voters haye exercised their franchise at the facilitation centre.

Further, 1230 PwD voters have also cast their votes through postal ballots at their respective residences.

In addition, 7230 voters in the 80-plus age group have also exercised their franchise at their respective residences while 16 voters in essential services have cast their votes at the facilitation centres.

The movement of EVMs are being tracked with the help of e-Traccar App which is embedded in the mobile phones of polling personnel and sector officers.

Besides, a polling personnel will be able to report any sort of EVM malfunctioning or any untoward incident happening in the polling station.

This will enable the Returning Officer to take immediate corrective actions.

Control Rooms have been set up in all offices of ROs, DEOPs and CEO Manipur.

In order to ensure free, fair and smooth election, certain restrictions have been imposed on the polling day in the polling stations.

Providing free conveyance to voters to and from the polling stations by a candidate/his agent is a corrupt practice and strictly forbidden.

Canvassing within polling station or any public or private place within a distance of 100 metres of a polling station is strictly prohibited.

Cellular phones, cordless phone shall not be allowed except officers on duty in the 100 metres of a polling station.

Besides, no campaign related posters or banners within 100 metres of the polling booth are allowed.

Use of loudspeakers within 100 metre polling stations is also strictly prohibited.

Can-didates shall also not set up booths within 200 metres of the polling booth.

It may be noted that re-poll for 12 polling stations of Phase I assembly constituencies are also scheduled for Saturday.

The 12 polling stations going for re-poll are Sarouthel of Khundrakpam AC); New Keithelmanbi of Saitu (ST); Songsang, Maite and Tinsuong of Thanlon (ST); Majuron Kuki, N Chingphei, Khoirentak, Molsang and Leinom of Henglep (ST); and Teikot & Maukot of Singhat (ST) assembly constituencies.

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