Manipur goes to third

Imphal, Feb 21: Stage is set for Manipur's third and final phase of polling as about 3,63,345 voters including 1,85,598 females are expected to cast ballots to elect 12 Assembly members in three districts and a sub-division tomorrow.

Massive security arrangements have been made to ensure incident free voting as poll personnel in many sensitive booths were being escorted by the policemen.

Manipur has already witnessed two phased peacefull pollings on February 8 and 17 for 48 Assembly constituencies of the state's 60-member Legislative Assembly.

Manipur's Chief Electoral Officer R.R.Rashmi said the third phase of election would be held at Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur districts and the Jiribam sub-division. He said the last phase polling has comparatively some difficulties as over 100 centers have no proper roads to lead the polling booths. Every polling centre would be guarded with armed security personnel, he added.

Boats and helicopters were pressed into service to move the election materials to the polling stations.

Meanwhile, the outlawed NSCN-K has banned all candidates in Tamenglong Assembly Constituency from contesting the election alleging interference by its rival faction NSCN-IM.

The fates of Congress president Gaikhangam, Tribal development minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Information Minister T.N.Haokip, and Mr Th Devendra--the number two man in the O.Ibobi government, will be decided tomorrow.

There are also two women candidates among the constestants.

Chandel has the maximum of ten candidates while Singhat has only three.

Indian National Congress is contesting in 11 seats. LJSP-9, RJD-6 National Congress Party in 5 and Samajwadi Party-5.

The Bharatiya Janta Party has three candidates, Communist Party of India- 4, Manipur People's Party (MPP)- 3, NPP-3, SAP-2, JD (U)-1, PDA-1 and Independents-23.

UNI