Manipur Assembly Election 2022 Voting News Live: Sporadic incidents of violence marred elections to 38 assembly constituencies in the first phase of Manipur assembly polls on Monday even as 67.53 per cent of around 12.09 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 3 pm, election officials said. As many as 12,09,439 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect their representatives from among 173 candidates, including 15 women, across 1,721 polling stations. Less than half an hour after voting commenced in Manipur, Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N Biren Singh exercised their franchise in their respective constituencies.
Of the 38 seats voting today, 29 are in districts of Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur while the remaining nine are spread across Churchandpur, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl. Among the key candidates are chief minister and BJP candidate from Heingang N Biren Singh, his cabinet colleague Thongam Biswajit Singh, speaker Y Khemchand Singh from Singjamei, deputy CM and NPP candidate Yumnam Joykumar from Uripok and Manipur Congress president N Lokesh Singh from Nambol.
Manipur Assembly Election 2022 Polling Live: Manipur Election 2022 Voting Live Updates, Manipur Election 2022 Voting Live Coverage
District-wise voter turnout till 3 pm:
Bishnupur – 67.42%
Churachandpur – 61.35%
Imphal East – 65.81%
Imphal West – 70.21%
Kangpokpi – 76.74%
A havildar of 8th Manipur Rifles who was deployed for poll duty was found dead in Pherzawl district early on Monday morning, police said. While it remains unclear how the incident occured, police has registered a case for further inquiry. The body has been airlifted to Imphal.
District-wise voter turnout till 1 pm:
Bishnupur – 50.48%
Churachandpur – 40.37%
Imphal East – 46.11%
Imphal West – 52.15%
Kangpokpi – 61.30%
At least one person was injured in a clash between members of two political parties in a remote place in Churachandpur district, police said. An EVM was damaged in the clash. It has been replaced and voting will recommence soon, an election official said.
District-wise voter turnout till 11 am:
Bishnupur – 29.66%
Churachandpur – 16.68%
Imphal East – 26.66%
Imphal West – 31.60%
Kangpokpi – 32.62%
Long queues of voters outside polling stations in Manipur as voting for the first phase of #ManipurElections2022 continues. Visuals from Chingmeirong Rongmei Upper Primary School in Imphal. pic.twitter.com/ByOmPm2dR3
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
District-wise voter turnout till 9 am:
Bishnupur – 14.37%
Churachandpur – 4.97%
Imphal East – 10.39%
Imphal West – 11.15%
Kangpokpi – 15.78%
Manipur Governor La Ganesan votes at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School in Imphal
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
He says, "I appeal to all people of Manipur that they should exercise their franchise because in our country democracy is prevailing & sign of democracy is election."#ManipurElections2022 pic.twitter.com/pXQkALurcy
First phase Assembly elections underway in Manipur.
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
Visuals from Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School in Imphal pic.twitter.com/xu6yI4q6iD
I shall get 75 percent of the votes in my constituency. We will get 30 out of the 38 seats going to polls today… I am confident that I shall be the CM for the second time: Biren Singh after casting his vote
The BJP has fielded candidates in all the 38 seats, followed by Congress with 35 contestants, NPP with 27, JD (U) with 28, Shiv Sena with seven, RPI (Athawale) with six, LJP (Ram Vilas) with three, and Kuki National Assembly and Kuki People's Alliance with two each. Eighteen Independents are also in the fray.
Imphal | CM and BJP candidate from Heingang, N Biren Singh arrives at Shrivan High School in Imphal to vote.
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
He says, "I request people of my constituency along with other voters to cast their valuable votes & use democratic power given by Constitution."#ManipurElections2022 pic.twitter.com/frFpok2WZS
Voting for the first phase of #ManipurElections begins; 173 candidates in 38 constituencies in fray
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
Key candidates -CM N Biren Singh from Heingang, Speaker Y Khemchand Singh from Singjamei, Dy CM Yumnam Joykumar Singh from Uripok & state Congress chief N Lokesh Singh from Nambol pic.twitter.com/nZg8DYeLdQ
The campaigning for the phase 1 polls in Manipur ended today with all political parties making their last effort to woo the voters in the north-eastern state. The high-voltage campaign saw the ruling BJP slamming the opposition over its misrule during the previous government and promising an all-round development for the state in the coming five years. Read More
Manipur | Preparations underway for the 1st phase of Manipur Assembly elections; visuals from Thangmeiband Khoyathong Tombisana High School, Imphal
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
"Security personnel is present in large numbers from Assam & Manipur, smooth polling is expected": Presiding Officer Dr Syed Ahmed pic.twitter.com/2XSCV30KN0
In the 2017 Manipur Assembly elections, Congress emerged as the single largest party winning 28 seats followed by the BJP which settled with 21 seats. The National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) bagged four seats each while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) managed to secure only one constituency. Later, BJP forged an alliance with the NPP, NPF and LJP to form the government under the leadership of Biren Singh.
The BJP formed the government in Manipur in 2017 with the support of the National People’s Party (NPP), Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). However, this time the BJP decided to go solo and is contesting all 60 seats alone.
The Congress, on the other hand, has formed an alliance of six political parties and named it Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA). The coalition partners in MPSA include Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Janata Dal (Secular).