Fate of Prithiviraj, Bira sealed in EVMs, voter turn out pegged at 85.18 pc
Moirang AC by poll passes off peacefully
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2008: At least 85.18 percent of the 32,059 listed voters of Moirang Assembly Constituency exercised their franchise rights to seal the fate of Congress candidate Mairenbam Prithiviraj and MPP nominee Hemam Bira for which by election was held today.

Though there were reports of minor confrontations between supporters of the two candidates on grounds that some presiding officers had instructed the voters to press the number one serial on the EVM and other arguments accruing from small misunderstandings, the by poll was by and large peaceful, thanks to the stringent security measures.

An MPP sympathiser raising allegations against the Presiding Officer at a polling booth

The over night drizzle notwithstanding, voters started streaming out of their homes from 7 am to cast their votes but it was not until after 12 noon that long queues could be seen at the polling stations save for 27/11 Moirang Multi Purpose Higher Secondary School where a long queue could be seen from the early hours.

As the day wore on long queues could be seen at all the polling stations, marking a handsome turn out.

Even as long queues could be seen at polling stations 27/10 and 27/11 at Moirang Multi Purpose Higher Secondary School in the early hours, only a few voters could be seen at polling station 27/15 Shama Government LP School.

At polling station 27/29 Tronglaobi Government Model Primary School, actual voting started at 8.30 am as the EVM had developed some technical snags.

Any potential trouble was quickly nullified after the Presiding Officer there assured the voters that there would be more time allocation for the time lost.

Trouble threatened to break out at polling station 27/35 Kwakta Youth Association after allegations were raised that the Presiding Officer had 'advised' some voters to press the number 1 button.

However the misunderstanding was quickly sorted out and voting resumed peacefully.

Voting was stalled for more than one hour at polling station 27/7 Thamnapokpi after allegations were raised that the Presiding Officer 'advised' an MPP sympathiser to press serial number 1 button on the EVM.

The timely intervention by the SP of Bishnupur police averted any major stand off between supporters of the two candidates at this polling station.

Before the intervention of the SP, there was a heated argument between the Presiding Officer and the MPP sympathiser which threatened to blow over with even those outside the campus of the polling station starting a heated exchange of words.

To avert any major confrontation, the Returning Officer came rushing to the polling station and matter subsided once it was decided that the Presiding Officer would be changed.

MPP candidate Hemam Bira and his supporters also demanded a repoll at the particular polling station.

All the EVMs have been transferred to the Mini Secretariat at the office of the DC, Bishnupur after polling hour.