Former three-time chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and ex-deputy chief minister Gaikhangam Gangmei are among 92 candidates in the fray as Manipur votes in the second and final phase of assembly elections in 22 constituencies across six districts today. All arrangements to hold the voting in 1247 polling stations adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols have been completed, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal has said. A total of 8.38 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase in the districts of Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Jiribam, the CEO said. The BJP has fielded 22 candidates, followed by Congress (18), National People’s Party (11), Janata Dal (United) and Naga People’s Front (10 each). Altogether 12 Independents and nominees of Shiv Sena, NCP, CPI and several other parties are also contesting.
Of the 92 candidates, 17 have criminal antecedents, Agarwal said. He said that 223 polling stations will be manned completely by women polling personnel. Arrangements for webcasting or videography have been made in all polling stations while adequate central forces have been deployed.
The first phase of voting held on February 28 was marred by stray incidents of violence and repoll was ordered in 12 polling stations in three districts – Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Imphal East. Repoll in these areas where EVMs were damaged by miscreants will also take place on Saturday, the CEO said. Agarwal said that polling stations were sanitised while circles were drawn in polling stations for voters to stand in queues to avoid crowding to ensure COVID safe election.
“Besides, mask, glove, face shield, thermal scanners, PPE kit have been provided to polling parties. Voters who are COVID positive or are under quarantine will be allowed to vote at the last hour between 3 pm to 4 pm,” he said. Mobile phones are not allowed except for officials on duty within 100 meters of a polling station. Meanwhile, the High Court of Manipur has directed that all voters in the vicinity of 18 years in Heirok constituency of Thoubal district will have to produce two separate documents of proof of date of birth at the polling station. Separate verification counters shall be set up in all polling stations in that constituency so that no inconvenience is caused to other voters.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh got poorer by over Rs 4 lakh since 2017, while the assets of his deputy, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, nearly doubled during the same period. The Chief Minister’s assets dropped from Rs 1.52 crore in 2017 to Rs 1.47 crore in 2022. On the other hand, the assets of his deputy increased from Rs 2.29 crore to Rs 5.05 crore during the same period, the report said.
“Out of the 60 re-contesting MLAs, assets of 53 MLAs (88%) have increased ranging from 1% to 1,682% and assets of seven MLAs (12%) have decreased ranging from 3% to 34%,” the report said. The average assets of these 60 re-contesting MLAs fielded by various parties, including Independents, in 2017 was Rs 2.28 crore that jumped to Rs 4.22 crore in 2022. The average asset growth for these re-contesting MLAs between 2017 and 2022 is Rs 1.93 core or 85%.
(With inputs from agencies)