Imphal: Amidst tight security arrangements has been done for the first phase of Manipur state assembly elections which is scheduled for tomorrow.
In Manipur, elections are lined up for two phases and for the 1st phase voting will start tomorrow at 7 AM.
There were about 38 constituencies for which 1,643 polling stations have been set up in areas spread over Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and the hill districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi for the first phase.
Near about total number of 168 candidates will contest in the first phase of Manipur elections.
Manipur state has a 19,02,562-strong voters out of which there are about 9,28,573 male voters and about 9,73,989 female voters to cast their votes apart from 45,642 new voters.
All political parties in their campaigns mainly focused on the continuing economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council and the state government’s inability to break it for the run-up to the election for the 60-member House.
Some other important issues which grabbed the attention of the political parties are alleged lack of development, massive corruption, misappropriation of funds and worsening law and order in the state.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, put the spotlight on the “secretive nature” and contents of the Naga Framework Agreement between the central government and the NSCN (IM) in 2015.
On other hand, BJP leaders targeted the ruling Congress party for its failure to lift the over three month-long economic blockade on the two national highways of in the state having no direct access to the sea.
It is interesting to notice that all eyes are on rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu who after breaking her 16-year fast last year and created a new party ‘Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance’ to fight the Assembly election in her quest to get the dreaded AFSPA revoked.
