84 percent turnout was witnessed in nearly three-fourths of the polling stations during phase one of Manipur polls. The Election Commission after providing the numbers said that details from remaining stations is yet to be received.

Brisk polling with a voter turnout of 69 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in the first phase of Manipur assembly election today.

Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan said 69 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the first five hours of voting.

State Nodal Officer (Elections) W Chandrakumar Singh told PTI, "given the circumstances in the state and the nature of voting, turnout is likely to increase after 2 pm."

No report of violence has been reported from anywhere in the state.

The rise in voter turnout reflected a sense of responsibility among the voters, Singh said.

Rights activists Irom Sharmila cast her vote at a polling booth of Khurai assembly constituency.
Elections are being held today in 38 assembly constituencies in the first phase.

In all, 168 candidates are in the fray in this phase.

An electorate of 19,02,562 comprising 9,28,573 male voters and 9,73,989 female voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. There are around 45,642 new voters. Polling will end at 3 pm.

Polling in Kongpal in Imphal East's Khuria area witnessed participation of differently-abled and elderly people.

In the run-up to the polls, the political parties focused primarily on the continuing economic blockade in their campaigns. Polling will end at 5 p.m.

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