Notes of Rs.50 and Rs.1000 flying in every Leirak
Manipur goes to poll today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 27, 2012: The state will go to polls tomorrow to choose representatives from the 60 Assembly Constituencies to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The polling will start from 7 am in the morning and will continue till 3 pm in the afternoon.

Even though the Election Commission has tried its best to curb unreasonable expenditures in the election, notes of Rs 500 and 1000 denominations are flying in every street of all the 60 constituencies looking for voters.

With the contesting candidates busy in their quest to woo voters by luring them with much higher amount of money this time around, voters in the state are not discussing whom they shall elect to the state Assembly but are asking one another how much they got and who gives how much money.

The scene has emerged only when barely a day is left for the polling date.

Meanwhile, all the polling personnel who will conduct and assist the voters in choosing their representatives and security personnel to maintain a peaceful environment in and around the polling stations have reached their respective polling stations without any trouble.

Unlike the past elections, this time no state force will be seen in all the polling stations in order to ensure free and fair voting.

Electronic Voting Machines will be used in every polling station.

In order to prevent proxy voting, photos will be taken for each and every voter.

Every elector can cast his or her vote by producing either EPIC or other personal identification documents like Driving License, Income Tax Identity (PAN) card, Service Identity Cards, according to ECI.

Since it has been decided to photograph every electorate in the act of casting their votes, the voting period in some polling stations which have large number of voters is expected to take much longer than before.

Moreover, the voting percentage is likely to fall around 60% since proxy voting will not be possible with the introduction of photographing of voters.

Polling will be held in 2,375 polling stations with 11,825 polling personnel.

Besides the state force and the para military forces who are already in the state, an additional 350 companies of para military force would be guarding every nook and corner of the state in order to ensure safe poll process in all the 60 constituencies.

Toltang Polling Station under the Tipaimukh constituency has the lowest number of voters with only 73 eligible voters.

Meanwhile, polling personnel and security personnel for eight polling stations in Tipaimukh A/C and two in Jiribam A/C have reached their respective polling stations by boat.

Moreover, five helicopters - one MI-17 and four Chetak, will be used to bring in EVMs from remote polling stations to ensure safety of the EVMs, official sources said.

In all 279 candidates in the fray for the 60 seats in the state Assembly.

Out of the total 17,42,581 voters 8,58,390 are male while the remaining 8,83,191 are female voters.

Women voters outnumbered male voters by 24,801 voters.

Among some prominent candidates in the fray are, present Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi of INC (Thoubal Assembly Constituency), O.Joy of MPP (Langthabal Assembly Constituency), former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam of NCP (Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency), Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Gaikhangam (Nungba Assembly Constituency), DD Thaisii of INC (Karong Assembly Constituency) and Y.Erabot of INC (Wangkhei Assembly Constituency).

Indian National Congress (INC) is fielding candidates in all the 60 constituencies while All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is fielding candidates in 48 constituencies.

Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) which had ruled the state in the past is fielding candidates in 33 constituencies.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is fielding candidates in 29 constituencies while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have put up candidates in 23 constituencies each, Manipur People's Party (MPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) in 13 constituencies each and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) in 14 constituencies.

Out of the 60 constituencies, four constituencies, Moirang, Kakching, Karong and Thanlon A/Cs, will witness straight fight.

In Moirang A/C INC and NCP will have a fight it out while in Kakching A/C it is between CPI and INC and in Karong A/C and Thanlon A/C INC candidates are pitted against NPF and CPI respectively.

Unlike in the past, the 10th Assembly Election will witness 16 women candidates in fray in different constituencies.

While INC and MSCP have three women candidates each, CPI, BJP, Inquilab and CPI (M) have one each.

Shiva Sena is also fielding two women candidates and three independent women candidates are also in fray.

According to information from the CEO Manipur, number of contesting candidates in different constituencies are, seven candidates in 1-Khundrakpam A/C, five candidates in 2-Heingang A/C, four candidates in 3-Khurai A/C, eight candidates in 4-Kshetrigao A/C, five candidates in 5-Thongju A/C, eight candidates in 6-Keirao A/C, six candidates in 7-Andro A/C, three candidates in 8-Lamlai A/C, five candidates in 9-Thangmeiband A/C, seven candidates in 10-Uripok A/C, five candidates in 11-Sagolband A/C, six candidates in 12-Keishamthong A/C, three candidates in 13-Keishamthong A/C, four candidates in 14-Yaiskul A/C, four candidates in 15-Wangkhei A/C, four candidates in 16-Sekmai A/C, six candidates in 17-Lamshang A/C, four candidates in 18-Konthoujam A/C, five candidates in 19-Patsoi A/C, six candidates in 20-Langthabal A/C, five candidates in 21-Naoriya Pakhanglakpa A/C, four candidates in 22-Wangoi A/C, four candidates in 23-Mayang Imphal A/C, four candidates in 24-Nambol A/C, four candidates in 25-Oinam A/C, seven candidates in 26-Bishnupur A/C, two candidates in 27-Moirang A/C, six candidates in 28-Thanga A/C, five candidates in 29-Kumbi A/C, seven candidates in 30-Lilong A/C, three candidates in 31-Thoubal A/C, four candidates in 32-Wangkhem A/C, three candidates in 33-Heirok A/C, four candidates in 34-Wangjing Tentha A/C, three candidates in 35-Khangabok A/C, four candidates in 36-Wabagai A/C, two candidates in 37-Kakching A/C, five candidates in 38-Hiyanglam A/C, four candidates in 39-Sugnu A/C, five candidates in 40-Jiribam A/C, eight candidates in 41-Chandel A/C, six candidates in 42-Tengnoupal A/C, four candidates in 43-Phungyar A/C, six candidates in 44-Ukhrul A/C, four candidates in 45-Chingai A/C, three candidates in 46-Saikul A/C, four candidates in 47-Karong A/C, three candidates in 48-Mao A/C, three candidates in 49-Tadubi A/C, five candidates in 50-Kangpokpi A/C, four candidates in 51-Saitu A/C, four candidates in 52-Tamei A/C, three candidates in 53-Tamenglong A/C, three candidates in 54-Nungba A/C, four candidates in 55-Tipaimukh A/C, six candidates in 56-Thanlon A/C, six candidates in 57-Henglep A/C, five candidates in 58-Churachandpur A/C, six candidates in 59-Saikot A/C and four candidates in 60-Singhat A/C.Out of the 60 constituencies, 4-Kshetrigao, 6-Keirao and 41-Chandel have eight candidates each being the largest number of candidates in a single constituency.

Imphal East district has 59 candidates contesting in 11 constituencies while Imphal West has 64 candidates in 13 A/Cs, Bishnupur has 28 candidates in six A/Cs, Chandel has 14 candidates in two A/Cs, Ukhrul has 14 candidates in three A/Cs, Senapati has 20 candidates in six A/Cs, Tamenglong has 10 candidates in three A/Cs and Churachandpur has 31 candidates in six A/Cs.

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