IMPHAL, Jun 1: Amidst tight security measures, polling officials and personnel for Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) election slated for June 2 have reached their respective assigned polling stations today even as Chief Minister O Ibobi reviewed security arrangements in connection with the election.
Altogether, 86 candidates including 36 women are in the fray for election of 27 Councillors. INC and BJP have put up 26 candidates each, whereas CPI has fielded five candidates, LJP three, 1 JD (U) while 25 Independent candidates are in the fray.
Out of the 54 Ward Members to be elected, two seats have already been declared elected uncontested. There are a total of 127 in the poll fray for election of the remaining 52 Ward Members.
Duty polling personnel for the polls were flagged off for their respective polling stations from DC complex, Imphal West and DIC complex, Porompat, Imphal East.
Voting will begin from 8 am tomorrow and continue till 4 pm. Re-poll, if the need arises, will be held on June 4.
Counting of votes will be held on June 6 at respective district headquarters.
All 189 polling stations in Imphal West have been declared hyper-sensitive.
At the same time, Chief Minister O Ibobi today reviewed security arrangement for IMC polls slated for tomorrow besides taking up necessary security measures.
The security review meeting was attended by Dy CM Gaikhangam, who is also in-charge of Home, DGP LM Khaute, IGPs and SPs of valley districts, according to a high ranking police officer.
Security measures have been tightened in the wake of the public curfew on non-locals in Khwairamband Keithel and the call to all non-locals to stay confined within their places of residences located within greater Imphal areas by JCILPS, which is spearheading the movement for implementation of ILPS in Manipur.
The CM reportedly instructed the police officers to take adequate security measures. The police officers also highlighted the measures they have taken up so far.
Police personnel of Bishnupur and Thoubal will be utilised in connection with the IMC polls.
There are 189 polling stations in Imphal West. Out of the total 66 polling stations in Imphal East, 11 have been categorised hyper-sensitive while 21 polling stations are sensitive and 34 polling stations are categorised as normal.
A total of 1,75,864 including 91,819 female voters are expected to exercise their franchise.
Nine out of the total 27 seats have been reserved for women. In connection with the IMC polls, Imphal East media control room can be contacted through telephone number 0385-2458387 and Imphal West RO through 8730877424, ARO through 9863429327 and 9862405688 and RI through 9856969306. Election Observer for Imphal East M Laxmikumar, Commissioner (Transport) along with Imphal East DC M Joy and SP Kamei Angam Romanus inspected the polling stations within the district today.
