Inner Manipur Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Repolling: 73.05% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 3 Pm

A voter turnout of 73.05 per cent was recorded till 3 P.m. in repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, officials said on Monday. However, at 11 Am it was recorded at 37.54 per cent, as reported by the officials.

"Voters queued up since early morning to exercise their franchise at all the 11 polling stations, which was affected by riot-like situation on Friday. No disturbance or violence has been reported so far on Monday," an election official said.

The repolling began at 7 am at the Inner-Manipur seat's 11 polling booths, where incidents of booth capturing and violence were reported on April 19. The commission has deployed heavy security to conduct polling peacefully.

A directive from the Elections Commission stated that repolling will take place at 11 polling stations: Khurai constituency's Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai, 4 polling booths in Kshetrigao, 1 in Thongju in Imphal East district, 3 in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district following the April 19's violence.

Earlier on Friday, soon after incidents of violence at polling booths came to light, the Congress had demanded repolling at 46 booths. State Congress president K Meghachandra demanded repolling from the Chief Electoral Officer in a written complaint, alleging that polling at 36 booths in Inner Manipur and 11 in Outer-Manipur seat were disturbed.

However, the commission only found that incidents of gun fire, and EVM destruction happened at the Inner Manipur seat only, after which, the election officer declared polling null and void, and announced repolling at Inner Manipur seat's 11 booths.

To conduct the repolling peacefully, the commission ordered to beef up security all 11 repolling stations to avoid any disruption or nuisance.

Talking to the media, a voter said, "We have come to vote. Re-poll is happening. The security has been heightened."

Manipur saw a voter turnout of 69.18 % till 7 pm on Friday.