Imphal, April 19 (UNI) Voting began Friday for both parliamentary constituencies in Manipur that has seen ethnic violence for months ahead of the general election.
The first and only phase of voting in the Northeast state will see 32 Assembly segments of the Lower or Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and 15 Assembly segments of 2-Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency going to the hustings.
A total of 15,44,652 voters, including 7,41,849 male, 8,02,557 female and 246 transgender voters will exercise their franchise in 2,107 polling stations today.
Six candidates are in the fray for the 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency seat. Those in the fray are Rajkumar Somendro Singh in Kaiku, Manipur People’s Party (Ind), Moirangthem Totomshana Nongshaba, (Ind) , Maheshwar Thounaojam, Republican Party of India - Athawale (RPI – A) , Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Indian National Congress(INC) and Haorungbam Sarat Singh, (Ind ).
Four candidates are in the fray for 2-Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. They are Alfred Kanngam S Arthur, Indian National Congress, Kachui Timothy Zimik, Naga People's Front, Alyson Abonmai (Independent) and S. Kho John (Independent).
Altogether 645 polling stations will be completely managed by all women polling personnel and two polling stations will be exclusively managed by all PwD polling personnel.
A total of 18,091 Internally Displaced Voters will exercise their franchise at their respective Special Polling Station. Over 8,000 polling personnel are being deployed.
Arrangements for webcasting/videography have been made at 1,256 polling stations.
Adequate CAPF has been deployed in all polling stations. In addition, Micro Observers have been deployed in all critical polling stations and Special Polling Stations.
CEO Manipur, Pradeep Kumar Jha said the movement of EVMs is being tracked with the help of e-Traccar App which is embedded in the mobile phones of Polling personnel and Sector Officers.
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