Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla cast her vote for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in the second phase of 17th Lok Sabha polls in Imphal on Thursday.
Also read: Polling begins for Inner Manipur constituency amid tight security
Governor Dr Heptulla who was earlier enrolled in New Delhi, cast the vote at all women polling personnel manned 11/34 Old Lambulane (B) polling station which have 436 voters including 231 males and 205 females, located in the heart of Imphal town at 7:15 am.
Also read: Re-polling underway in 19 booths of Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency
Dr Heptulla became the first voter to cast at the well decorated western wing of old lambulane Polling station.
Speaking to reporters after casting the vote, Dr Heptulla said one should cast their vote and that no one should waste their votes. On less participation of women in electoral politics, she said she had been fighting for this since she started to vote. After Beijing declaration, she said she had made a statement in Parliament for more representation of women in Parliament.
Chief electoral officer (CEO), of Manipur P K Singh who accompanied the Governor to the polling booth said that the Governor’s move can be considered a good sign of being a responsible citizen.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has even launched a national campaign recently titled ‘It’s so easy’ to encourage people to move their vote to their present place of residence.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh accompanied by his wife Heiyainu also cast their votes at 216 Srivan High School located at Luwangsangbam Mamang Leikai Imphal East District (2) around 9:15 am.
Meanwhile, the polling percentage for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency was recorded as 18.13 per cent till 11 am.
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Polling is on across 1300 polling stations under 32 Assembly constituencies in Manipur’s four valley districts after people, mostly men started to vote at their respective polling stations from 7 am onwards.
Interestingly a total of 138 polling stations including all polling stations under Yaiskul (38) and Bishnupur (40) Assembly constituencies besides two polling stations each in every 30 polling stations are being manned by women polling personnel. One polling station in Imphal east district is also manned by persons with disabilities.
Manipur is represented by two parliamentary constituencies – Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur (ST reserved). The first phase for Outer Manipur was held on April 11.
This time a total of 11 candidates: Dr R K Ranjan of BJP, O Nabakishore of Congress, Dr M Nara of CPI, G Tonsana of Manipur Democratic People’s Front, S Nandeshore of Rashtriya Janhit Sangarsh Party, RK Anand of North East India Development Party, O Jugindro of Manipur People’s Party, RK Somorendro, M Tomtomsana, W Pobitro Singh, Md Iliyash Khan, all Independent are contesting for the coveted Inner Manipur seat.
The fate of these candidates will be decided by the 9,28,626 electors including 4,47,843 males, 4,80,751 females and 32 third genders besides 4523 persons with disabilities.
More than 40 companies of para military forces and state police were deployed for smooth conduct of the polling.