Imphal, February 14: Notwithstanding the inclement weather, voters in large number came out to exercise their democratic rights to elect their representatives in all the 13 Assembly Constituencies of Imphal West district where polling for the second phase of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly was held today.

Though the polling hour started from 7 am, voters were seen queuing up before at various polling stations of 9-Thangmeiband AC, 10-Uripok AC, 11-Sagolband AC, 12-Keishamthong AC, 13-Singjamei AC, 16-Sekmai AC, 17-Lamshang AC, 18-Konthoujam AC, 19-Patsoi AC, 20-Langthabal AC, 21-Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC, 22-Wangoi AC and 23-Mayang Imphal.

Incessant downpour since last night did not dampen the spirit of the voters who waited for their turn to cast their votes with umbrellas in hands.

An elector standing in the queue at the 23/9 polling station of Mayang Imphal Constituency said �I have come out to vote despite the pouring rain for the sake of protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur, removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur.

�I will hand over my rights to a political party or a candidate who has the commitment to implement all these in the next five years,� he added.

However, a woman elector who too was standing in line to cast her vote at the same polling station said she would vote not on the basis of political party but on the basis of the personality of the person (candidate).

Coming out after exercising her franchise at the polling station set up at Lalit Kala Sangam Music Institute of Wangoi AC, a young woman observed �since sending more women representatives who will understand the problem of women in society to the State Assembly is required, I have voted for a woman candidate�.

At 13/14 polling station of Singjamei AC opened at Singjamei High School, another woman said �unlike in the past, we could cast our votes without any fear and peacefully as adequate security coverage have been provided by the Central paramilitary personnel�.

A tribal woman, who came out after casting her vote at 11/22 polling station of Sagolband AC at Johnstone Higher Secondary School, said she had handed over her democratic rights in favour of a person who would consider for the welfare of the State and its people.

�I do not believe in party politics�, she added.

Overall, the conduct of the polling passed off peacefully and there is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere except for the stray incident of malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at some polling stations including the polling station for 9-Thangmeiband at Lilashing Khongnangkhong High School.