Imphal, June 02: By-poll to the Khangabok and the Khundrakpam Assembly Constituencies held today amid deployment of heavy security passed off peacefully with 90.44 percent voters� turnout recorded at Khangabok and 91 percent at Khundrakpam. Voters in large number came out to exercise their franchise braving the scorching summer heat. Chief Electoral Officer RR Rashmi said voters� turnout at both the seats was encouraging and so far there were no report of any untoward incidents and polling was carried out very smoothly.

The seat of Khangabok AC in Thoubal district fell vacant after Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who was also elected from Thoubal AC in the 9th Assembly elections held in February this year relinquished it while retaining the seat of Thoubal AC, whereas the by poll to Khundrakpam in greater Imphal east was necessitated following the death of its sitting MLA Th Navakishore Singh of the NCP.

In all, six candidates including a woman are in the fray in the by-poll to Khundrakpam AC.

They are Konsam Tomba Singh of NCP, Thokchom Lokeshore Singh of Indian National Congress, Namoijam Singhajit of Manipur People�s Party, Lairenlakpam Lala Singh of BJP, Laishram Premchandra Singh of CPI and Heikrujam Bimola of Samata Party.

Interestingly Navakishore�s son Lokeshwar Singh is contesting on a Congress ticket.

Stringent security measures were taken up to ensure smooth conduct of the election in all the polling stations.

All the voters were also body searched by the security personnel on duty before allowing them to the polling stations to cast their votes. Some of the voters at polling station number 1/6-Phukhao Naharup of Khundrakpam AC said unlike in the general election held in the past, they could exercise their franchise peacefully.

However, slow process in verification made them to stand for long in the hot sun. Voters at 1/8 Sagolmang High School of the same Constituency also expressed the same observation when they said security measures taken up this time was more stringent and incidence of poll related violence very low. Apart from stray incidents of confrontation among the workers of some of the candidates, the conduct of the by-poll to the Khundrakpam AC was by and large peaceful.

There is no report of any untoward incident from any part of the Constituency. For the Khangabok seat, three candidates including Chief Minister Ibobi�s wife Landhoni Devi of the Congress are in the fray. The other candidates are Qutub Ali of NCP and Angou of RJD. Clad in traditional Manipuri attires Okram Ibobi along with his wife cast their votes at 35/27 polling stations at Athokpam primary school at 7.15 am.

Adhering to the election code of conduct the CM, after casting his vote, however, did not move around the constituency and instead returned to his private residence within the AC. To protect from the scorching heat most of the voters were seen moving out with umbrellas while some put black goggles.

�Though today is terribly hot I think it doesn�t dampen the poll spirits.

Bright sunshine is far more better than heavy down pour �, said Tomba Singh , a Khangabok voter.

Since all polling stations, 32 in Khangabok and 28 in Khundrakpam have already been declared sensitive by the CEO at least one section of paramilitary forces (10 to 12 personnel) were deployed at the polling stations.

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