The incident under Karong unfortunately escalated leading to serious injury to two persons, who were immediately evacuated by chopper to Imphal for treatment. However, one of them sadly succumbed on the way. The other person is under treatment at RIMS Hospital, Imphal.
TFM Desk
Polling for Second Phase of Manipur Assembly Elections ended peacefully with 76.62% of the total 8,38,730 voters in the state turned out to exercise their franchise as per report available from different constituencies upto 5 pm Saturday, official said.
As per the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, Rajesh Agrawal, the polling in the entire valley area was peaceful. In hill districts, there were twelve incidents of damage to EVMs by miscreants reported at 42/4, 42/13, 42/16, 42/18, 42/42 and 42/43 under 42-Tengnoupal AC, 44/64 and 44/70 in 44-Ukhrul AC, 45/26 and 45/31 under 45-Chingai AC, 49/51 under 49-Tadubi AC and 47/49 under 47-Karong AC. FIRs have been registered.
The incident under Karong unfortunately escalated leading to serious injury to two persons, who were immediately evacuated by chopper to Imphal for treatment. However, one of them sadly succumbed on the way. The other person is under treatment at RIMS Hospital, Imphal.
CEO, Manipur expresses condolence over the demise of the deceased. There were few complaints from certain political parties & candidates during the poll. However, the majority of the issues were resolved, and prompt actions taken.
CEO, Manipur Rajesh Agrawal stated that of the total 22 constituencies that went to poll today 48-Mao AC remained at the top with highest polling percentage of 86.78%, followed by 38-Hiyanglam AC (86.31%), while 52-Tamei AC witnessed lowest voting percentage (61.23%) reported till 5 PM. The final voting percentage will be notified after the arrival of all political parties.
Rajesh Agrawal continued that a total of 22 Assembly Constituencies including 10 in Thoubal, 3 each in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong, 2 in Chandel and 1 in Jiribam went for poll today. A total of 8,38,730 voters including 4,10,020 male, 4,28,679 female and 31 transgender voters are in Phase-II. There are a total of 4849 PwD electors and 480 Centenarian voters.
Out of a total of 1247 polling stations, 223 polling stations were completely manned by all women polling personnel. In 31-Thoubal Assembly Constituency, all the 40 polling stations were entirely manned by all women polling teams. There were 39 model polling stations spread across different Assembly Constituencies of six Electoral Districts in which Selfie booths and Photo Booths were also set up at 17 polling stations.
People turned out in large numbers and exercised their franchise to choose their representatives. The centenarian voters and PwD voters were no exception as the majority of them came out and casted their votes knowing the importance of each single vote. The volunteers at the booth assisted them with wheelchairs etc for a smooth voting experience. Many elderlies, PwD and first-time voters were also felicitated by the polling teams at the booth.
To ensure COVID safe election, adequate arrangements have been made in all polling stations. All polling stations were sanitised one day before the polls. ASHA and Anganwadi workers were utilised at each polling station to perform thermal screening and queue management.
Marking of circles with minimum distance was also done to avoid crowding. Besides, mask, gloves were provided to voters requiring the same.
The movement of EVMs was tracked with the help of e-Traccar App which was embedded in the mobile phones of Polling personnel and Sector Officers. Besides, the e-Atlas app was used by polling teams which enables polling personnel to report any sort of EVM malfunctioning or any untoward incident happening in the polling station. This enabled the Returning Officer to take immediate corrective actions.
Arrangements for webcasting/videography were successfully made in the majority of the Polling Stations. The voting at the majority of the polling stations was monitored through the webcasting at the control rooms in ROs, DEOs and CEO office. The CAPF were deployed at the polling stations to ensure security of voters. In addition, micro-observers were also deployed in critical polling stations to monitor the overall poll process.
He mentioned polling parties have started returning from their respective polling stations. EVMs are being deposited to the Strong Rooms, where three tier security systems are also being arranged for guarding the same. Security forces have been keeping strict vigil round the clock at Strong Rooms. The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in presence of General Observers on 6th March, 2022. Decisions on re-polls, if any, shall be decided accordingly, he added.
In addition, a total of 22 observers were deputed by the Election Commission of India for the second phase of polls and they were mobile throughout the day witnessing polling at different polling stations. Besides, three Special Observers were also deputed by the Election Commission to monitor and supervise the poll process. They were very satisfied with the arrangements at the polling stations and the participation of voters in a big way, as per the CEO, Manipur.
Repoll for 12 polling stations of Phase I Assembly Constituencies also ended peacefully with a turnout of 77.62%. It may be noted that one polling station each in 1-Khundrakpam and 51-Saitu, three in 56-Thanlon, five in 57-Henglep and two in 60-Singhat Assembly Constituencies went for repoll today.
Rajesh Agrawal also thanked people of Manipur for coming out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right in a peaceful manner, giving a real meaning to the Festival of Democracy. He also thanked all the Polling Personnel, Security Personnel, Booth Level Officers (BLO), PWD coordinators, ASHA Workers, Aanganwadi workers for working tirelessly day and night to ensure free, fair, peaceful, participative, accessible and inclusive polls in the state.