Voting is underway in 38 Assembly Constituencies – 10 in Imphal East, 13 in Imphal West, 6 in Bishnupur, 6 in Churachandpur and 3 in Kangpokpi.
TFM Desk
Electorates in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations to votes for their candidates for the 38 of the total of 60 Assembly seats from 7 am onwards.
Voting is underway in 38 Assembly Constituencies including 10 in Imphal East, 13 in Imphal West, 6 in Bishnupur, 6 in Churachandpur and 3 in Kangpokpi.
A total of 12,09,439 voters including 580607 male, 628657 female and 175 transgender voters are in Phase-I who will exercise their franchise across 1721 polling stations. There is a total of 10041 PwD electors and 251 Centenarian voters in these 38 Assembly Constituencies.
80+ voters proudly flaunting their inked finger after voting in Manipur.
Take a cue from our elders and cast your vote today. @CeoManipur #GoVote #AssemblyElections2022 #ElectionCommissionOfIndia #ECI pic.twitter.com/D8SMWtmjlx
— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) February 28, 2022
4 Assembly Constituencies namely 13-Singjamei, 14-Yaiskul, 15-Wangkhei and 58- Churachandpur will be manned by all women polling teams. It is also notable that 1 polling station in 59-Saikot will be manned completely by PwD polling personnel. A total of 6884 polling personnel are being deployed and all polling personnel will reach their respective polling stations on Monday.
A total of 173 candidates including 15 female are in fray for the poll scheduled tomorrow. Out of 173 candidates, 39 candidates have criminal antecedents. The party wise number of candidates: BJP-38, CPI-1, INC-35, NCP-6, NPP-27, JD(U)-28, LJP (Ram Vilas)-3, RPI(Athawale)-6, Shiv Sena-7, Kuki National Assembly-2, Kuki People’s Alliance-2 and Independent-18.
I urge the people of Manipur, especially the youth to vote in large numbers. Your one vote will keep this beautiful state free from insurgency, blockade and corruption.
So come out and vote for a prosperous Manipur.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 28, 2022
मणिपुर के मुख्यमंत्री एन बीरेन सिंह ने इंफाल पूर्व के श्रीवन हाई स्कूल में मतदान किया।@NBirenSingh #ManipurElections2022 #Manipur #voting pic.twitter.com/WR02NsEtVi
— यूनीवार्ता (@univartaindia1) February 28, 2022
According to CEO Manipur, arrangement for webcasting/videography have been made in all Polling Stations. Adequate CAPF have been deployed in all polling stations. In addition, micro-observers have been deployed in all critical polling stations.
To ensure COVID safe election, adequate arrangements have been made in all polling stations. All polling stations have been sanitised. ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been engaged. Marking of circles with minimum distance has been done to avoid crowding. Besides, mask, glove, face shield, thermal scanners, PPE kit etc. have been provided to polling parties. Voters who are COVID positive or are under quarantine will be allowed to vote at the last hour between 3 PM to 4 PM.
On accessibility front, provision for Pick up/Drop facilities for PwD and aged electors are made available with wheelchair facility. Besides, two volunteers have been engaged in each polling station for assisting voters. Voter Assistance Booth have also been set up in all polling stations.
Postal Ballots for service electors have been issued to all 13274 electors electronically and 559 have been received till date. These will be received till 10.03.2022 before 8am. A total of 13067 voters on election duty have applied for postal ballot, while 2419 PBs received at the facilitation centre, the rest have been sent to the voters by post at their addresses. Further, 906 postal ballots have been cast by Pwd voters and 4968 votes have been cast by 80+ voters in the absentee voter category. For Essential services, 15 PBs issued and all PBs received.
It is appealed to all electors to come out and exercise their franchise fearlessly and out of free will on the poll day on Monday. Adequate Security arrangements has been made with deployment of Central Paramilitary force at all polling stations. In addition, there will be effective patrolling and area domination by CAPF and Manipur Police, in all the 38 constituencies throughout the day, for confidence building and to enable people to come out and vote in a peaceful setting.
On the eve of the election, TFM and Cen TV team talked to select voters for their quick reactions on the election.