85% voting recorded in Manipur by-polls

Imphal: Over 85 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in by-elections to two assembly constituencies of Thangmeiband and Thongju in the district today, State Election Office said.

An estimated 85 per cent votes were cast of the 54,751 strong electorate, till the end, in the two segments - Thangmeiband of Imphal West district and Thongju of Imphal East districts, the SEC said.

Polling took place from 7 am to 4 pm to decide the fate of six contestants in the two seats.

However, EVM glitches have necessitated repoll at 5/25 polling station at Singjamei Kshetri Leikai Primary School in Thongju assembly constituency, the State Election officer said, adding that repoll date would be announced shortly.

While there were 26,537 voters in Thangmeiband Assembly constituency, an estimated 28,214 were eligible to cast their franchise in Thongju Assembly segment, the SEC said.

The Chief Election officer O Nabakishore, also the Chief Secretary of Manipur, said that in addition to the three observers deputed by the Election Commission, micro-observers and Sector Magistrates monitored the election process today.

Nabakishore said that voters who are not in possession of voter identity cards had been allowed to exercise their franchise by showing any one of the 12 identity-proof documents recognised by the EC.

For the first time in the electoral history of Manipur, photographs of candidates were displayed in the EVMs apart from assigning a symbol against NOTA key, he said.

In Thangmeiband assembly constituency, three contenders were - Kh Joykishan of BJP, Jyotin waikhom of Indian National Congress and GA Tonsana Sharma of Manipur Democratic People Front (MDPF).

In Thongju assembly constituency, three contestants were - GA Tonsana Sharma of MDPF, Bijoy Koijam of INC and Th Bishwajit Singh of BJP.