45% Voter turnout in Manipur till 11 AM

Voting for the last phase covering 40 seats in Uttar Pradesh and 22 Assembly constituencies in Manipur began on Wednesday, with all eyes on the Prime Minister’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.

A voter turnout of 45 per cent was recorded till 11 am in the second and final phase of Manipur Assembly election today.No untoward incident has been reported in the first three hours of polling, State Nodal Officer (Elections) W Chandrakumar Singh said.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is contesting from Thoubal seat, cast his vote at a polling booth of Thoubal



constituency at 7.15 am.

Ninety-eight candidates, including rights activist Irom Sharmila, are in the fray in this phase. Sharmila, who is pitted against the Chief Minister in Thoubal Assembly seat, had cast her vote at a polling booth of Khurai Assembly constituency in the first phase.

Polling which began at 7 am will end at 3 pm in 22 Assembly constituencies spread over the valley district of Thoubal and the hill districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.

The first phase polling to the 60-member Assembly was held on March 4 last.