IMPHAL: As the clock struck 4 pm on Wednesday (April 24), curtains fell on the election campaigns for the crucial second and final phase of voting for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, reserved for scheduled tribes (ST).
Officials confirmed that nearly all election personnel, accompanied by security forces and essential equipment including electronic voting machines, have reached their designated polling stations.
A total of 4,84,132 voters from 13 assembly segments spanning eight districts along Manipur’s border with Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Myanmar, are poised to exercise their franchise in the upcoming second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Manipur on April 26, from 7 am to 4 pm.
Notably, the constituency’s elections are being conducted in two phases, with the first phase witnessing a voter turnout of around 73 percent on April 19, comprising 5,61,860 voters from 15 assembly segments.
The Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, encompassing 28 assembly segments, boasts a total of 10,36,736 electors.
With Manipur housing a total of 60 assembly seats, the recent elections have seen significant participation from the electorate.
In the upcoming polls, the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat presents a multi-cornered contest, with candidates including Alfred Kanngam Arthur from the Congress, Kachui Timothy Zimik from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), and two Independent candidates, S Kho John and Alyson Abonmai.
While the NPF candidate secured victory in the 2019 elections, the ongoing campaign has intensified competition, particularly between the Congress and NPF contenders.
Notably, all candidates hail from Naga communities in northern Manipur.
Election results for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency are slated to be announced on June 4.