2nd phase polls : voter turnout pegged at 76.62 pc
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2022:
Ukhrul
At least three EVMs - one in Chingai AC and two in Ukhrul AC were reportedly destroyed in the second phase of election, today.

According to sources, the incidents happened at Paoyi polling station (Chingai AC) and Lunghar and Sihai Khullen polling stations (Ukhrul AC) .

Although there were some complaints of delayed voting in some polling stations due to EVM failure, it was restored within hours.

There were also certain reports of minor scuffles in Phungyar, Ukhrul, and Chingai.

In another instance, a bomb went off along the proposed route of Hill Area Committee Chairman and NPF candidate in Phungyar AC Leishiyo Keishing at around 9 am today.

Reportedly, the bomb was planted in between Nambashi Khullen and Nambashi Khunou.

No one was injured.

The site of explosion was supposed to be traversed by the NPF candidate after casting his vote at Nambashi Horton.

Phungyar AC reported 75.27 per cent voter turnout, Ukhrul 66.54 per cent and Chingai 81.06 per cent till 5 pm.

Many of the polling teams expressed resentment against the District Election Officer, Ukhrul for 'poor electioneering management' .

According to them, there was acute shortage of fuel for the teams.

They informed that most of them were at petrol pump for over six hours and also faced a lot of hardship in setting up EVMs in the polling station.

They went on to state that the allowances for poll duty was not sufficient.

Reportedly, the EVMs have been deposited at the strongroom of the Mini Secretariat Office complex, Hamleikhong, Ukhrul under a three tier security arrangement.

Tengnoupal
19 polling stations of 42-Tengnoupal AC in Moreh registered 95 per cent voters turnout.

The 19 polling stations in Moreh witnesses 11,292 voters exercising their right to adult franchise, out of total 11,867 voters.

BJP candidate in Tengnoupal AC Letpao Haokip also cast his vote at 42/70 polling station at Moreh Ward number 9 .

Jiribam
Election in 40-Jiribam AC concluded peacefully registering a 75.02 percent voter turnout today.

Polling started at 7 am today and polling officials had started returning to the DC office complex, Jiribam by 5 pm.

Speaking to media BJP candidate N Budhachandra said during his visit to the polling stations, he found security personnel keeping a tight vigil and ensuring peaceful polling.

On the other hand, Chief Election Officer, Rajesh Agrawal has said, in a statement, that polling for the second phase of Assembly elections ended peacefully with 76.62 percent of the total 8,38,730 voters in 22 Assembly Constituencies exercising their franchise till 5 pm.

As per the CEO, 48-Mao AC reported the highest polling percentage at 86.78 per cent and it is followed by 38-Hiyanglam AC (86.31 per cent) 52-Tamei AC recorded the lowest voting percentage at 61.23 percent.

The final voting percentage will be notified after the arrival of all polling parties, he informed.

Rajesh Agrawal continued that a total of 22 Assembly Constituencies - 10 in Thoubal, three each in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, two in Chandel and one in Jiribam went to poll today.

Altogether 8,38,730 voters including 4,10,020 males, 4,28,679 females and 31 transgenders voters exercised their franchise in phase-II election.

Out of 1247 polling stations, 223 polling stations were completely manned by all women polling personnel.

In 31-Thoubal Assembly Constituency, all the 40 polling stations were entirely manned by women polling teams.

There were 39 model polling stations spread across different Assembly Constituencies of six electoral districts in which selfie and photo booths were also set up at 17 polling stations, he said and added that many centenarian and PwD voters also came out and casted their votes.

Many elderlies, PwD and first-time voters were felicitated by the polling teams.

To ensure Covid safe election, adequate arrangements were made in all polling stations, the CEO said and added that ASHA and Anganwadi workers were utilised at every polling station to perform thermal screening and manage the queue.

Masks and gloves were provided to voters requiring the same, the statement continued and added that the movement of EVMs was also tracked with e-Traccar App.

The CEO further stated that e-Atlas was used by polling teams to report any sort of problem such as EVM malfunctioning or any untoward incident happening in the polling station.

The voting at the majority of the polling stations was monitored through the webcasting at the control rooms in ROs, DEOs and CEO office, he informed and maintained that CAPF were deployed at the polling stations.

Additionally, micro-observers were also deployed at critical polling stations to monitor the overall poll process, Rajesh Agrawal maintained and mentioned that polling parties have started returning from their respective polling stations.

EVMs have been deposited in strong rooms under a three tier security system, the CEO said.

The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in the presence of General Observers on March 6 and decisions on re-polls, if any, will be decided accordingly, he added.

The CEO continued that a total of 22 observers and three special observers were deputed by the Election Commission for the second phase of polls.

The polling in the entire valley area was peaceful.

In hill districts, there were twelve incidents of damaging EVMs by miscreants at 42/4, 42/13, 42/16, 42/18, 42/42 and 42/43 polling stations under 42-Tengnoupal AC, 44/64 and 44/70 polling stations in 44-Ukhrul AC, 45/26 and 45/31 polling stations in 45-Chingai AC, 49/51 polling station in 49-Tadubi AC and 47/49 polling station in 47-Karong AC, the CEO informed.

FIRs have been registered.

Comment