Imphal: In Manipur, 76.04 per cent polling was recorded in 22 seats in the second and final phase of the assembly elections on Saturday. Incidents of violence were also reported at some places before and after the elections. Officials gave this information. Voting began at 7 am at 1,247 polling stations in six districts of the state amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. There are a total of 8.38 lakh voters in this phase.
The highest voter turnout of 82.02 per cent was recorded in Senapati district, officials said. After this 78 percent voters cast their vote in Thoubal district. Thoubal has 10 assembly constituencies. The lowest turnout was 66.40 per cent in Tamenglong district, which has three assembly seats.
Two persons were allegedly fired upon by security forces deployed at the Ngamju polling station in Karong assembly constituency of Senapati district, leading to violence at some places, affecting polling, police said. The election agent of the BJP candidate filed a complaint with the Presiding Officer of the polling station and demanded a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The polling was stopped at the Ngamju polling station, the returning officer said.
Violence also broke out at some places in Manipur hours before the second phase of polling began, as a Congress worker allegedly shot a BJP supporter while outside the residence of an expelled BJP leader, police said. The incident of indigenous bomb explosion also came to the fore. A police official said that 25-year-old L. Ambuba Singh succumbed to the bullet injuries at a hospital here in the early hours of Saturday.
Unidentified miscreants hurled a country-made bomb at the residence of expelled BJP leader CH Bijoy on Friday night in Lamphel area of Imphal West district, police said. No one was injured in the blast triggered by two masked men on a two-wheeler, he said.
Congress leader and former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh casts his vote in Thoubal district. After casting his vote, Ibobi Singh said, “Congress will definitely win with absolute majority, but if we get one or two seats less than the required number of seats, the party is ready for an alliance.”
A total of 92 candidates are trying their luck on 22 seats in the final phase. These include 12 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party, 18 from Congress, 11 from National People’s Party, ten each from Janata Dal United and Naga People’s Front.