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Female polling personnel and policewomen leave for their respective polling station for the 2nd phase of the Lok Sabha elections, on Wed. April 17 in Manipur.[/caption]
Our correspondent
Imphal, April 17 (EMN): The stage has been set for the second phase polling for the second phase Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency across 1300 polling stations under 32 assembly constituencies in Manipur’s four valley districts on April 18. Manipur is represented by two parliamentary constituencies- inner Manipur and outer Manipur (ST reserved). The first phase for outer Manipur was held on April 11.
The polling parties along with the election materials including the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have left for their polling stations on Wednesday from their respective district headquarters.
To encourage and celebrate the festival of democracy, key chains and badges will be given to the first 50 voters and first time voters respectively at every polling station. Provisions will also be made available for lactating mothers with special rooms and special facilities for senior citizens.
The chief electoral office PK Singh of Manipur had also informed the media that the first 50 voters will be given gifts from the CEO office during the polling day,
Block Level Officers will be provided an amount of INR 1000 each so as to provide potable drinking water at the polling stations including the voters.
For the PWD, five vehicles each along with wheel chairs are reserved in each polling station to ensure pick up and drop facility for the people who are visually impaired and with locomotive disabilities.
They will be assisted by young volunteers who are under 18 years of age for which they will be rewarded INR 200 as an incentive for their service rendered on the poll day. Young volunteers have been involved to make them aware of the election process.
This time a total of 11 candidates unlike 8 in the outer seat, are contesting for the inner seat with a couple of key issues including development and the unpopular Citizenship Bill which was featured again in the BJP election manifesto.
The candidates are Dr RK Ranjan of Bharatiya Janata Party, O Nabakishore of Congress, Dr M Nara of Communist Party India, G Tonsana of Manipur Democratic People’s Front, S Nandeshore of Rashtriya Janhit Sangarsh Party, RK Anand of North East India Development Party (NEIDP), O Jugindro of Manipur People’s Party, RK Somorendro, M Tomtomsana, W Pobitro Singh, Md Iliyash Khan, all Independent.
The fate of these candidates will be decided by the 9,28,626 electors including 4,47,843 males, 4,80,751 females and 32 third genders besides 4523 persons with disabilities.
There will be a total of 1300 polling stations including 56 critical, 54 vulnerable, 35 model and 95 all women managed polling stations at 984 locations under four districts of the state. At the same time 40 Companies of Central Armed Police Force and the state police force shall be deployed in the second phase election.
In 2014 Lok sabha polls Dr Th Meinya of congress won the seat by defeating his nearest rival Dr M Nara of CPI by a margin of 94,674 votes.
Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla will cast her vote in the second phase 17th Lok Sabha polling for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in Imphal on Thursday.
Governor Dr Heptulla who was earlier enrolled in New Delhi, will now cast her vote at all women polling personnel manned 11/34 Old Lambulane polling station located in the heart of Imphal town at 7 am on April 18, official sources said.
On her move, Dr Heptulla said, “It is only natural that I move my constituency since Imphal has been my place of residence for some years now. Moreover, I identify with the place as I continue to learn more and more about the state and its people. I am proud to say that I am ready to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Imphal.”
Chief Electoral Officer PK Singh of Manipur who is scheduled to attend the voting of governor said that the governor’s move can be considered a good sign of being a responsible citizen as it is the responsibility of a citizen to move her vote and not waste it when relocated to a new place.
In India millions of people constantly relocate to other parts of their state or the country on account of job, business, study, marriage or other reasons, he added.
The Election Commission of India has even launched a National Campaign recently titled “It’s so easy” to encourage people to move their vote to their present place of residence.