Re-poll held for the second time 28 polling station; CEO says polling peaceful

IT News
Imphal, March 10: Re-polling in 28 polling stations across four districts of Manipur was held today amidst tight security. Voters were seen standing in queues before the polling stations to exercise their franchise before 7 am where the poll begins. Polling will ends at 3 pm.
Source from the CEO official said election was peaceful and turn out rate was even higher comparing yesterday’s re-poll. Preliminary report said the voters turn out cross 80% but exact figure will be known after thorough examination, the source added.
The repoll was ordered following electoral malpractices in these polling stations, the official said.
Among many interesting events, one polling station in the remote Saikul constituency in the newly created Kangpokpi district saw voting thrice this season.
Saikul, 60km away from Imphal, has 11 candidates in the fray – highest for any constituency in this poll. This tribal-reserved seat is dominated by the Kuki tribe, and went to polls on March 4 in the first phase.
“It is a crucial seat and we had ensured a tight security cover yet we found some malpractices and ordered a repoll,” Manipur’s Chief Electoral officer VK Dewangan told NDTV.
The repolling took place yesterday, but the BJP again filed a complaint against the Congress candidate for booth capturing and the EC after scrutiny ordered another repoll.
About 1,000 voters are voting for the third time today.
“People from remote areas have actively participated in the polls. The political parties are locked in a fierce battle in Saikul which has many heavyweight candidates this time,” said local journalist Kaybie Chongloi from Kangpokpi.
The EC had directed that the polling was to be held in the Saikul police station and not in the polling booth that was allegedly ‘rigged’ twice.
The first phase recorded 86.5 per cent polling, followed by 88 per cent in the second phase. Repolling at 34 booths in eight constituencies of the first phase yesterday stood at 89 per cent.