NEW DELHI, Feb 10: Even as the first phase of polling in 58 constituencies across 11 districts in western Uttar Pradesh ended peacefully on Thursday, the Election Commission of India announced a revised schedule for the two-phase polling in Manipur on request from the Christian community.
The polling in Manipur will now be held on February 28 for the first phase instead on February 27 and on March 5 for the second phase instead of March 3.
The decision to reschedule the first phase of polls comes after the demand by Christian group to hold elections on any day other than Sunday (Feb 27), according to media reports. The counting of votes, however, will be taken up as scheduled on March 10.
The All Manipur Christian Association had filed a petition before the poll panel, citing that Sunday is a day of prayer for the community. Responding to the Christian body’s remarks, the poll panel had said, “They have explained their positions to us. So, we will discuss in the commission after reaching Delhi and we will take appropriate actions whatever is required for that.”
The Manipur elections this time will witness a total of 487 polling stations in five constituencies being managed by women poll officials. The constituencies that will be exclusively managed by women polling officials are Singjamei, Thoubal, Yaiskul, Wangkhei and Churachandpur.
The tenure of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, which consists of 60 members, is scheduled to end on March 19, 2022.
Meanwhile, an estimated 59 per cent of the voters turned up to cast their votes in the first phase of polling on Thursday sealing the fate of 623 candidates including 73 women. A total of 2.27 crore voters of 58 assembly constituencies across 11 districts had exercised their franchise throughout the day. The polling time concluded at 6 pm. However, according to Election Commission (EC) officials, voters already in the queue were allowed to vote post the closing time.
Voters, braving the cold wave, were seen queuing up at polling booths to vote for their desired candidates amid heavy security cover. Given the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, polling officials were checking the temperatures of voters, sanitizing their hands among other precautionary measures. More than 123,000 security personnel including those from the paramilitary were deployed for duty.
The entire polling process was peaceful but a minor skirmish broke out between supporters of union minister V K Singh and Congress leader Rajan Kant in Ghaziabad. According to reports, the clash took place when VK Singh was speaking and security personnel had to intervene.
(Manas Dasgupta)
