Imphal: The first phase of the Manipur Legislative Assembly election was held on Monday with a 78.03 percentage of voter turnout.
Kangpokpi district recorded the highest voter turnout of 82.97 polling percentage, and Imphal West district recorded 82.19. While other three districts, Imphal East, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, recorded 76.64, 74.45, and 73.44 polling percentages respectively till 5 pm, according to Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur.
In Imphal East, polling took place in 10 (ten) assembly constituencies: Khundrakpam, Heingang, Khurai, Kshetrigao, Thongju, Keirao, Andro, Lamlai, Yaiskul and Wangkhei. While the voting in the Imphal West electoral district was conducted in 13 (thirteen) assembly constituencies Thangmeiband, Uripok, Sagolband, Keishamthong, Singjamei, Sekmai,
Lamsang, Konthoujam, Patsoi, Langthabal, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, Wangoi and Mayang Imphal. Six assembly constituencies: Nambol, Oinam, Bishenpur, Moirang, Thanga, Kumbi of Manipur’s valley district Bishnupur, also went for the polls in the first phase.
Elections for six seats Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Henglep, Churachandpur, Saikot and Singhat in the hill district Churachandpur and three seats Saikul, Kangpokpi and Saitu in Kangpokpi were also conducted in the first phase.
Voting began at 7 am and continued till 4 pm. Governor of Manipur, La Ganesan, who has enrolled as a voter in the Sagolband assembly constituency in Imphal West, cast his vote at the model polling station manned only by women police personnel opened at TG Higher Secondary School. Earlier, he was enrolled at 24-Thiyagaraya Nagar Assembly Constituency, Chennai South, Tamil Nadu.
Altogether, 173 candidates, including 15 females, were in the fray. The 38 seats have a total voter of 12,09,439, including 5,80,607 male, 6,28,657 female, 175 transgenders, 10,041 PwD and 251 centenarians. The Election Commission has taken proper security arrangements and COVID precautionary measures at 1,721 polling stations. Elections for the remaining 22 seats will take place on March 5, and counting will be conducted on March 10 2022.
