State polls 2022: 78% turnout in Manipur phase-I; reports of violence, EVM damage

Guwahati: More than 78% voted in the first of the two-phase assembly polls in Manipur on Monday, according to early estimates. Thirty-eight of the 60 seats voted in the first phase. Incidents of violence and damage to EVMs were reported from several places.

A person was injured in a clash between workers of rival political parties in Churachandpur district. There were clashes in Imphal East, Imphal West district and Kangpokpi districts. Security forces quelled trouble and additional security forces were rushed to all places. The electronic voting machine was damaged at Singhat and later replaced. BJP's camp in Kakwa area in Langthabal constituency in Imphal West district was damaged and a vehicle of a National People's Party candidate damaged in Keirao.

Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agarwal said voting was conducted 'peacefully' in 1,721 polling stations, except for few incidents of EVM damages and preventive firing by security personnel in some polling stations of Saitu, Henglep and Singhat assembly constituencies. Incidents of damage of EVMs by miscreants were reported in seven polling stations at Leplen in Saikul constituency, New Keithelmanbi in Saitu, Maite and Tinsuong in Thanlon seat, Leinom in Henglep seat and Geltam and Maukot in Singhat constituency. FIRs were registered in all cases. Polling for Geltam and Leplen commenced with new sets of machines. "Decisions on re-polls shall be decided accordingly," Agarwal said.


Large queues were seen outside polling stations before it started at 7 am. Governor Ganesan, chief minister N Biren Singh, deputy chief minister Y Joykumar, Speaker Y Khemchand and state Congress president N Loken were among those who voted early. Singh claimed BJP will win 30 of the 38 seats. The first phase sealed the fate of the CM, minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, National People's Party candidate and deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh, senior BJP leader Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Congress' Ratankumar Singh, Lokeshwar Singh, Saratchandra Singh, Akoijam Mirabai Devi.