Around 86 percent voter turnout recorded, the highest since 2009, till 5 pm as the second phase of Assembly elections in Manipur ended peacefully. As many as 98 candidates were in the fray for 22 constituencies in districts of Thoubal and the hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati in the poll-bound north-eastern state. The Election Commission had set up 1151 polling stations for the purpose.
The second phase is also crucial as human right activist Irom Sharmila- also known as iron lady of Manipur- is contesting against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair conduct of the elections. In the first phase, all political parties in their campaigns focused on the continuing economic blockade by the United Naga Council and the state government’s inability to lift it.
Manipur Governor Nazma Heptulla on Tuesday appealed to the voters to show “their constitutional responsibility” to make the north-eastern state “the first state in the country with the highest number of voter turnout.”
Here are the highlights
3:00 PM: Polling ends in Manipur
2: 35 PM: Voter turnout of 78% recorded till 2 pm
1: 30 PM: Voter turnout of 67% recorded till 1 pm
11:23 AM: 45% Voter turnout recorded till 11 AM in the final phase of Manipur elections.
10: 00 AM: 21% voter turnout recorded till 9 AM in the final phase of Manipur elections.
8: 10 AM: first time voters cast their vote. Notedly, There are around 45,642 new voters this time.
#ManipurPolls2017: First time voters cast their vote at polling booth 35/41 at Athokpam Makha Leikai PO in Thoubal pic.twitter.com/uUP5UEPu0I
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
7: 55 AM:
Sure of our win, we are confident: Okram Surjakumar Singh (Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh’s son) contesting from Khangabok constituency pic.twitter.com/jTFet96kcf
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
7: 48 AM:
Will get a clear mandate, this election is something like a referendum, both hill and the valley: Manipur CM Okram Singh after casting vote pic.twitter.com/ctR2ierxsv
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
7:45 AM:
Okram I Singh casts vote at polling booth 35/41 at Athokpam Makha Leikai PO in Thoubal, PRJA’s Irom Sharmila also contesting from this seat pic.twitter.com/5IjzjZWomm
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
7:30 AM: Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh casts his vote
#FLASH: Final phase polling begins for assembly elections in Manipur covering 22 constituencies, CM Okram Ibobi Singh casts his vote pic.twitter.com/eyvhEqhbD8
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 8, 2017
