Campaigning for 2nd phase ends : 07th mar17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

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Campaigning for 2nd phase ends
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2017: The campaign for the second and final phase of Manipur Assembly elections which will test the ruling Congress party in the State ended on Monday.

The high-voltage campaign concluded at 3 pm for the 22 seats which go to polls on March 8.The first of the two-phase Assembly elections was held on March 4.Manipur has a 60-member House out of which 20 are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

The campaign for the second phase elections saw bitter exchanges between the Congress and BJP over corruption, economic blockade, 'Framework Agreement,' unemployment, "anti-tribal bills" or Inner Line Permit (ILP) related issues and Manipur territorial integrity.

The BJP is seen as a potential contender for power.

Altogether 98 candidates, including four women, are in the fray for the remaining 22 seats.

There are 29 crorepati candidates in the second and final phase of the State Assembly elections, according to Manipur Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) .

The Congress is in power in Manipur for three straight terms.

The party in the last elections held in 2012 won 42 seats.

The 2017 election is billed as a major test for the grand old party amidst 'Modi wave'. The BJP has been trying to make inroads into the State.

The keenly awaited battle of Okram Ibobi Singh and rights activist Irom Sharmila will be witnessed in the final round of the elections in Thoubal constituency, the home turf of the three-time Chief Minister, on March 8.Irom Sharmila will also take on BJP's L Basanta Singh in the Constituency.

A total of 10,79,369 voters will decide the fate of the candidates fielded by different political parties in 1151 polling stations spread over Lilong, Thoubal, Wangkhem, Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabok, Wabagai, Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnu, Jiribam, Chandel (ST), Tengnoupal (ST), Phungyar (ST), Ukhrul (ST), Chingai (ST), Karong (ST), Mao (ST), Tadubi (ST), Tamei (ST), Tamenglong (ST) and Nungba (ST).

The Congress and BJP have put up 22 candidates each for the fray.

There are 2 CPI candidates, 6 Trinamool Congress candidates, 1 NCP candidate, 12 recognised State political parties' candidates, 24 registered unrecognised parties' candidates, and 24 independent candidates in the second and final round of the elections.

Congress heavyweights K Meghachandra, M Okendro, Th Debendra, D Korungthang, Victor Keishing, Preshow MK Shimray, DD Thaisi, Abdul Nasir of Congress are in the fray.

Manipur unit of Naga People's Front (NPF) president Awangbow Newmai is also in the fray in the second phase poll.

L Basanta, SS Ollis, Sword Vashum, Paojelet Touthang, Francis Ngajokpa, Z Kikhobou Newmai, Samuel Jendai, Adim Pamei and Vunzagin Valte are BJP bigwigs in the second phase elections.

Counting of votes will be held on March 11 .

* This news is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. E-Pao.net is not responsible for it's sanctity & originality.

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