Imphal, March 7: With the conclusion of the first phase of the 11th Manipur assembly elections with 86 percent voters’ turn out without any major incidents on Saturday, all has been set to repeat the same in the final phase of polling for 22 assembly constituencies in Manipur on Wednesday.
“Polling will be held at 1151 polling stations spreading across 10 valley and hill districts of the state which will be manned by 5755 polling personnel with adequate security personnel,” said the chief electoral officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan today. “All 375 polling stations in Thoubal and some in hill districts having internet connection will be covered by live web streaming to monitor activities inside the polling stations while remaining stations will be recorded (offline) by smart phones.”
Altogether 7,77,121 voters including 3,82,475 men and 3,94,464 women are expected to vote on Wednesday.
The ruling Congress which had won 42 (including 15 out of these 22 constituencies) in 2012 Assembly elections, and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who could not get a single seat in the last polls despite fielding 19 candidates, have fielded candidates in all the 22 seats while Naga People’ Front put up 11, National People’s Party 7, Trinamool Congress 6, Lok Jan Shakti 5, Manipur National Democratic Front 4, Independent 9, CPI and state's iconic rights activist Irom Sharmila’s PRJA 2 each, Manipur People’s Party and People’s Democratic Alliance one each.
Chief minister O Ibobi Singh and Sharmila are contesting from Thoubal seat while deputy chief minister Gaikhangam is contesting against BJP’s Adim Panmei in Nungba. Similarly rural development minister M Okendro will be contesting against former IPS officer and BJP candidate Th Radheshyam in Heirok, health minister D Korungthang against BJP’s Yangkholet in Tengnoupal, agriculture minister MD Abdul Nasir against BJP’s Md Anwar Hussain in Lilong.
Besides, former Ministers Thoudam Debendra (Jiribam), Francis Ngajokpa (Tadubi), Samuel Jendai(Tamenglong), DD Thaisii (Karong) are also in the fray. Interestingly, the chief minister’s son Surjakumar, is contesting against BJP’s Th Jadumani from Khangabok in place his mother MLA O Landhoni.
Though the main contenders for power in Manipur – Congress and BJP have both claimed to form the next government, Left and Democratic Front Manipur comprising state units of CPI, CPI (Marxist), JD (United), Aam Aadmi Party, NCP and Manipur National Democratic Front have also claimed that no government was possible in the state without a role for the Front.
