Amid sporadic incidents of violence at some places before and after the commencement of polling, Manipur recorded 67.77 per cent voter turnout in 22 seats in the second and final phase of assembly elections till 3 pm on Saturday, officials said. Voting began at 7 am at 1,247 polling stations in six districts amid tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. A total of 8.38 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase.
Senapati district recorded the highest turnout at 74.02 per cent, followed by Chandel at 70.30 per cent, an election official said. Two persons were allegedly shot dead by security forces deployed at the Nagmaju polling station in Karong assembly constituency of Senapati district, which affected voting due to violence at some places, police said.
In a complaint lodged with the returning officer of the polling station, the election agent of the BJP candidate demanded a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Polling has been stopped at Nagmaju polling station, the election official said.
Violence also erupted at some places in Manipur hours before the second phase of assembly elections began, as a BJP supporter was allegedly shot at by a Congress worker, while a saffron party’s expelled one, police said. A country-made bomb exploded outside the leader’s residence. L Amuba Singh, 25, died of bullet injuries at a hospital here early Saturday, a police official said.
In Imphal West district, unidentified miscreants hurled a country-made bomb at the residence of expelled BJP leader Ch Bijoy in Lamphel area on Friday night, police said. No one was injured in the blast triggered by two masked men on a two-wheeler, he said.
Among the early voters was Congress leader and former chief minister O Ibobi Singh from Thoubal district. After casting his vote, he said, “The Congress will definitely win with an absolute majority, but if we fall short of one or two seats, the party is ready for an alliance.”
The electoral fate of 92 candidates will be decided on Saturday, including 12 of the BJP, the Congress (18), the National People’s Party (11), the Janata Dal (United) and the Naga People’s Front (10 each).
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.