80 per cent voting in Panchayat elections in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 19 (UNI) An estimated 80 per cent polling was recorded in the Panchayat election in Manipur.

Election officials said the poll percentage might increase as voting was going on in some booths.

Those, who entered the polling stations by 1600 hours, were allowed to exercise their franchise, officials added.

In all 1000 candidates were in the fray for 60 Zilla Parishad seats.

Four Pradhans and 344 members of Gram Panchayat had already been elected unopposed.

The State Election Office sources said about 9270 polling personnel were involved in the poll exercise, adding there were altogether 1545 polling stations.

Large numbers of security personnel were deployed for the election. A massive security blanket was thrown in the hill districts where three student bodies Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur, (ATSUM), called a vote boycott.

The polling took place in the plains comprising the four districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishenpur.

Each voter was entitled to cast three votes, one for Zilla Parishad, another for Pradhan and the third one for Gram Panchayat member.

Police said the polling was by and large peaceful with no untoward incident reported from any part.

Eds: Please pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI