The Manipur Assembly elections 2022 final phase, which was conducted under tight security arrangements, across 1,247 polling stations in 22 constituencies of six districts on Saturday (March 5) witnessed 76.62 per cent voter turnout (5 pm) for the 92 candidates in the fray, amid poll violence that claimed two lives and left several others injured.
According to the CEO Manipur, as per report available from different assembly constituencies till 5 pm, voter turnout was 76.62 per cent of the total 8,38,730 voters. It said final voting percentage will be notified after arrival of all polling parties.
Among the 22 assembly constituencies 48-Mao assembly constituency set the highest polling percentage of 86.78 per cent followed by 38-Hiyanglam assembly constituency with 86.31 while 52-Tamei has lowest poll percentage with 61.23 per cent, the CEO said.
CEO Manipur Rajesh Agrawal said that polling in entire valley area was peaceful. However, in hill districts, there were incidents of damage to EVMs by miscreants in 12 polling stations which includes 42/4, 42/13, 42/16, 42/18, 42/42 and 42/43 under 42-Tengnoupal AC, 44/64 and 44/70 in 44-Ukhrul AC, 45/26 and 45/31 under 45-Chingai AC, 49/51 under 49-Tadubi AC and 47/49 under 47-Karong AC.
Despite the heavy deployment of security personnel, as polling got underway, around 9.30 am two persons sustained serious injuries after security forces allegedly fired on them at at Ngamju polling station No 47/49 situated in Karong constituency, Senapati district. One of the victims succumbed to his injuries, the other has been airlifted to a hospital in Imphal, sources said. The deceased has been identified as one K Longvao, 25, son of T Kah, while the injured has been identified as one V Saope, 25, son of S Vane, police sources said. The injured person of Ngamju village was rushed to RIMS ICU. FIRs have been registered, the CEO said.
In another incident, armed miscreants shot a BJP worker early Saturday morning at Wangjing Wangkhei situated in Wangjing-Tentha constituency. The victim has been identified as one Leimapokpam Amuba Singh, 25, son of L. Binoy of Wangjing Hodamba Maning Leikai. Amuba Singh sustained three bullets on his belly. He was taken to Raj Medicity, Imphal, but succumbed to his injuries around 6 am.
In a separate incident, unknown persons burnt down the house of one Rakesh Naorem at Tentha which also falls under Wangjing-Tentha constituency. The incident occurred in the intervening night of March 4 and 5.Poll violence was also reported from
Tengnoupal AC also reported stray incidents of poll violence at polling station of Khudei Khunou, "A minor scuffle took place at 42/29 polling station in Tengnoupal AC at around 9 am, but the matter was settled peacfully and the election process was restored," the DEO said.
In the Phase-2 Assembly elections, a total of 22 Assembly Constituencies, including 10 in Thoubal, three each in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, two in Chandel and one in Jiribam went for poll on Saturday. The state recorded a total of 8,38,730 voters, including 4,10,020 male, 4,28,679 female and 31 transgender voters were registered in Phase-II, 4849 PwD electors and 480 Centenarian voters.
Of the total 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 all women polling teams. There were 39 model polling stations spread across different Assembly Constituencies of six electoral districts in which selfie booth and photo booth were also set up at 17 polling stations.
The CEO stated that people turned out in large number and exercised their franchise to choose their representatives. A good numbere of centenarian voters and PwD voters came out and cast their votes. The volunteers at the booth assisted them with wheelchairs etc for smooth voting experience. Many elderlies, PwDs and first-time voters were also felicitated by the polling teams at the booth.
To ensure COVID safe election, adequate arrangements were made in all polling stations. All polling stations were sanitised one day before poll. ASHA and Anganwadi workers were utilised at each polling station to perform thermal screening and queue management. Marking of circles with minimum distance was also done to avoid crowding. Besides, masks, gloves, were provided to voters requiring the same.
The CEO also stated that the movement of EVMs was tracked with the help of e-Traccar App which was embedded in the mobile phones of polling personnel and sector officers. Besides, e-Atlas app was used by polling teams which enables a polling personnel to report any sort of EVM malfunctioning or any untoward incident happening in the polling station. This enabled the Returning Officer to take immediate corrective actions.
Arrangements for webcasting/videography were successfully made in majority of the polling stations. The voting at majority of the polling stations was monitored through the webcasting at the control rooms in ROs, DEOs and CEO office. The CAPF were deployed at the polling stations to ensure security of voters. In addition, micro-observers were also deployed in critical polling stations to monitor the overall poll process.
He mentioned polling parties have started returning from their respective polling stations. EVMs are being deposited to the Strong Rooms, where three tier security systems are also being arranged for guarding the same. Security forces have been keeping strict vigil round the clock at Strong Rooms. The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in presence of General Observers on 6th March, 2022. Decisions on re-polls, if any, shall be decided accordingly, he added.
In addition, a total of 22 observers were deputed by the Election Commission of India for second phase of polls and they were mobile throughout the day witnessing polling at different polling stations. Besides, three Special Observers were also deputed by the Election Commission to monitor and supervise the poll process. However, majority of the issues were resolved, and prompt actions taken, the CEO stated.
Repoll for 12 polling stations of Phase I Assembly Constituencies also ended peacefully with a turnout of 77.62 per cent. It may be noted that one polling station each in 1-Khundrakpam and 51-Saitu, three in 56-Thanlon, five in 57-Henglep and two in 60-Singhat Assembly Constituencies went for repoll today.
The 92 candidates, included two women candidates, Y Romita of CPI (Kakching AC) and SS Olish of BJP (Chandel AC). Twenty-two of them were BJP candidates, 18 Indian National Congress (INC), 10 each from the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Naga People's Front (NPF), 11 from the National People's Party (NPP), two each from the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), three from the Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A), one each from the Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Party (RJSP) and CPI and 12 contested as independent candidates.
Rajesh Agrawal thanked people of Manipur for coming out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right in a peaceful manner, giving a real meaning to the ‘Festival of Democracy’. He also thanked all the polling personnel, security personnel, booth level officers (BLO), PWD coordinators, ASHA Workers, Aanganwadi workers for working tirelessly day and night to ensure free, fair, peaceful, participative, accessible and inclusive polls in the State.
The counting of the election results will take place on March 10.
