Manipur Election 2022: Over 78% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 5 PM In First Phase Of Polls

Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and following COVID-19 guidelines in 1,721 polling stations.

All masked voters in queue (Twitter: @ECISVEEP)

New Delhi: In the first phase of assembly election in Manipur, 78.03 percent voter turnout was recorded as of 5 pm on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal informed.

Kangpokpi district recorded the highest voter turnout at 76.74 percent. Imphal West district, which has the highest number of constituencies, registered 70.21 percent polling, while Imphal East reported 65.81 percent voting.

Officials said that the first phase voters' turnout could surpass the 2017 assembly election's polling percentage of 86 percent, which was the highest recorded in the state to date.

The voting was held in 38 seats in five districts of Manipur. A total of 173 candidates, including five women, are in the fray in the election. Of the total 173 candidates, 39 have a criminal history.

Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and following COVID-19 guidelines in 1,721 polling stations. 

Meanwhile, Naorem Ibochouba, a state police personnel deployed for poll duty in Tipaimukh assembly constituency in Churachandpur district, died in a "suspected case of accidental firing" from his service rifle, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal said.

At least one person was injured in a clash between two political parties in Churachandpur district. An EVM was damaged, and it was later replaced.

Alleged Congress workers vandalised a BJP polling booth in the Kakwa area in Langthabal constituency in Imphal West district, while a vehicle of an NPP candidate was damaged by supporters of a rival group in Keirao assembly seat, although nobody was injured in the incident.

Security forces resorted to firing blank rounds to control the crowd at the New Keithelmanbi polling station in Kangpokpi district. The situation arose after Congress accused BJP of attempting to capture the booth.

Normalcy was restored and voting resumed after it was disrupted for a few minutes. Nobody was injured in the incident, officials said.

Police registered a case after an enraged mob engaged in "election offence and damages with common intention by using firearms" in Phunal Maring village in Imphal East district.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that youth went to exercise his franchise in Churachandpur district, only to find that his vote has already been cast.

"Dennis Lallienzuol, a young resident of Churachandpur, went to the polling booth today to exercise his democratic right, only to find that his vote had already been cast! This not an isolated incident of malpractice," he tweeted.

Dennis Lallienzuol, a young resident of Churachandpur, went to the polling booth today to exercise his democratic right, only to find that his vote had already been cast! This not an isolated incident of malpractice @CeoManipur @SpokespersonECI pic.twitter.com/Is3YqeYhHP

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 28, 2022

As many as 6,884 polling personnel have been deployed in the polls. Central forces along with state security forces are conducting patrolling and area domination to boost confidence among the voters, the officials said.

Voters initially waited patiently for their turn in chalk-marked circles by maintaining social distancing. However, as the sun rose over their heads, many sought shelter in the shade, while waiting for their turn to cast their votes.

In some polling booths, including the one at Soibam Leikai in Imphal East district, first-time voters were felicitated by election officials.

(With PTI inputs)