More than 70% polling recorded in Outer Manipur

Correspondent IMPHAL, APRIL 9 [dropcap]M[/dropcap]anipur today witnessed more than 70% polling in its Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency seat as the second phase of the nine-stage Lok Sabha elections in the state, according to Manipur’s Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) O Nabakishore. Repoll likely in one polling booth in Chandel district. “However the exact polling percentage will be known once the final reports from the respective presiding officer comes in,” CEO Nabakishore said while addressing media around 4:30pm this afternoon. Though there was report of replacing 11 EVMs 3 each in Churachandpur, Thoubal and Ukhrul districts in view of its malfunctioning in all districts excluding Tamenglong, the polling was by and large peaceful, he added.“We’ll recommend to ECI for repolling at 41/21 Lambung Primary school in Chandel district as the EVM engineers could not retrieve the record after an unidentified miscreant damaged at the machine during polling hour”, he added. The day’s polling was held to elect a Lok Sabha member from among 10 candidates who includes sitting congress MP Thangso Baite and ex-MPs Kim Gangte, Mani Charenamei, NPF candidate Soro Lorho and BJP candidate Prof Gangmumei Kamei. With the hope of getting a corruption free and pro-people government after the poll, many voters mostly women folks came out in groups to cast their votes at their respective polling stations in the five hill districts and eight assembly segments in Thoubal and Imphal East district since morning. “We love to have a corruption free government which can provide employment opportunity to the educated youths besides taking up infrastructure development”, opined student Stiela Thangal (25) of Yaikongpao village in Senapati district. Onthe other hand 51 year old bank employee Bharatkumar of Kalapahar prayed for a government which delivers good governance in the state. Many voters were seen standing in long queues in front of polling booths when this reporter visited some of the important booths in Senapati district around 10 in the morning. Interestingly 5 out of a dozen polling booths visited during the polling in the hill district, found using only one battery operated lamps besides report of not getting the bottled drinking properly. Earlier CEO office in Imphal announced to give two battery operated lamps and 12 bottled water for the polling personnel for all polling booths. After casting his votes along with his MLA wife Landhoni cast their votes at the Athokpam primary high school in Thoubal district in the morning, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh claimed that congress will definitely get the people’s mandate in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. Two individuals were reported hurt during a clash between two private parties represent ting separate political parties at Sangaiyumpham area in Thoubal district.