76% turnout, violence mark Phase 2 of Manipur elections

Manipur assembly election 2022: While the first incident took place on Friday night, hours before the start of polling, the second took place when security personnel opened fire at a group of people trying to snatch an EVM from a polling booth at Karong in Senapati district

IMPHAL: Two persons were killed in separate incidents of violence as voting for the remaining 22 seats in the second and final phase of the Manipur assembly elections concluded on Saturday. The overall turnout was recorded at 76.62% at 5pm, but poll officials said the figure might increase after all votes are tabulated.

Women show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their vote during the second phase of Manipur Assembly elections, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (PTI Photo)

One person was killed and another injured when security personnel opened fire at a group of people trying to snatch an electronic voting machine (EVM) from a polling booth at Karong in Senapati district by attacking poll personnel, police said.

According to a press release issued by chief electoral officer (CEO) Manipur Rajesh Agrawal on Saturday, the injured person was receiving treatment at RIMS Hospital, Imphal.

In another incident that took place on Friday night, hours before the start of polling, a worker of a political party was shot at by workers from a rival party in Thoubal district. The injured person succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

Police said there was a fight between both sides over campaigning just ahead of polling. Police haven’t given details of the parties involved in the incident.

The release stated that of the 22 constituencies that went to poll on Saturday, Mao assembly constituency in Senapati district recorded the highest polling at 86.78%, followed by Hiyanglam (86.31%), while Tamei assembly witnessed lowest voting percentage (61.23%) reported till 5pm.

“The final voting percentage will be notified after arrival of all political parties,” the release added.

Claiming that the polling in entire Imphal Valley area was peaceful, Agrawal said, there were 12 incidents of damage to electronic voting machines (EVMs) by miscreants reported at six polling stations under Tengnoupal assembly constituency, two polling stations each in Ukhrul and Chingai and one each at Tadubi and Karong constituencies in the hills districts. FIRs have been registered, the release said.

Stating that there were few complaints from certain political parties and candidates during the poll, Agrawal said, “However, majority of the issues were resolved and prompt actions were taken.”

Before the voting started at 7am, a large number of voters were seen standing in front of polling stations, particularly in Thoubal district that houses 10 assembly constituencies.

Altogether 92 candidates, including two women, are in the fray in the final phase. The ruling BJP fielded candidates in all 22 seats, the opposition Congress 18, BJP’s ally National People’s Party (NPP) 11, Janata Dal (United) and Naga People’s Front (NPF) are contesting from 10 seats each, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) fielded one candidate. A total of 12 Independent candidates are also in the fray.

The second phase of polling will decide the fate of former chief minister O Ibobi Singh, former deputy CM Gaikhangam, ministers Awangbow New Newmai, L Dikho, former minister Th Radheshyam, N Kayisii, M Okendra and K Ranjit.

“I have full confidence that we’ll win absolute majority or in case there is shortage of one or two seats, then we’ll think of other alliance partners,” Ibobi Singh said after casting his vote at Athokpam Makha Upper Primary school polling booth on Saturday. “In the last elections, we secured eight seats in Thoubal district. But this time we will secure nine out of 10 seats.”

On the other hand, BJP’s key candidate Th Radheshyam Singh, who had won Heirok seat in Thoubal district in the last elections, said, “We’ll perform three times better than our performance in 2017 elections.”

In the 2017 assembly elections, Congress which emerged as the single largest party but was unable to form the government, bagged 12 of the 22 seats that went to poll on Saturday, including eight in Thoubal district. The BJP had won just three seats while NPF and NPP secured four and two seats, respectively.

Altogether 223 polling stations out of the state’s total 1,247 were manned by all women polling personnel. The entire Thoubal assembly constituency was manned by all women polling teams.

Meanwhile, re-polling for 12 stations in Khundrakpam, Saitu, Henglep, Thanlon and Singhat assembly constituencies — necessitated due to damage of EVMs by miscreants during the first phase polling at 38 constituencies on February 28 — also ended peacefully, with a turnout of 77.62%, according to election officials.

The first phase of polling recorded a turnout of 88%. Results will be announced on March 10.