Assembly elections 2017: Impressive show in Manipur; 83% voter turnout recorded

The poll percentage in the first phase was 64.22, in the second 65.16, third phase 61.16, fourth phase 60.37, fifth phase 57.37 and sixth phase 57.03.

83 percnet votes polled in Manipur till 3 pm, people still in queues.

Voter turnout of 78% recorded in Manipur Elections 2017 till 2 pm.

Sixty seven percent votes cast in Manipur till 1 PM.

45 percent voter turnout recorded till 11 am in Manipur Elections 2017.

31 percent of the eight lakh voters​ came out early to cast their votes as polling began at 7 am.

21 percent turnout recorded till 9 am in the final phase of Manipur elections.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala says, "These final phases of elections will once again prove that Indians politics only stands for paradigms of development, it stands for togetherness, and it stands for love and affection and for a democratic India marching onwards on a journey of progress and peace."

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his son Kenedy Singh cast their votes.

Expressing confidence in winning the Assembly polls Ibobi said, "We will get a clear mandate. This election is something like a referendum both hill and the valley."

PM Narendra Modi urges people to vote in large numbers.

"Urging all those voting today, in the 2nd phase of the Manipur Assembly Elections to turnout in large numbers & vote," PM tweets.

An electorate of over 7.59 lakh is eligible to make their democratic choice from among 98 candidates -- four of them women -- in 1,151 polling stations spread over five districts: Thoubal, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.

All eyes will be on Thoubal, where Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is seeking re-election as a Congress candidate in a five-cornered contest that also features human rights activist and People`s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRAJA) nominee Irom Sharmila and Bharatiya Janata Party`s Leitanthem Basanta Singh.

Sharmila, who in 2016 ended a 16-year-long fast demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has now entered politics promising to repeal the legislation through constitutional means.

Another star constituency is Nungba, from where Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam of Congress is in the race.

The Ibobi-led Congress has ruled Manipur for the past 15 years, with the BJP emerging as the main challenger in the ongoing elections.