By IANS,
Imphal: Voting was peaceful Saturday morning across Manipur as people came out to exercise their democratic right despite a string of bomb blasts in the past one week.
The state will elect its 60-member 10th assembly.
The State Election Office said polling began at 7 a.m. and will be held till 3 p.m. Ballotting is taking place at 2,357 polling booths, out of which 875 have been termed hyper-sensitive.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his wife Landhoni Devi cast their votes around 7.30 a.m. at the polling booth in Thoubal Aphokpam Lower Primary School in Khangabok constituency. Landhoni Devi is the sitting legislator from Khangabok.
“I am expecting that the Congress party would secure around 45 seats. But 35 is the minimum number we are winning,” the chief minister told IANS after casting his vote.
The two-time chief minister of the state said over 80 percent voting is expected across the state.
“People would come out despite the militants’ threat as it is a democratic exercise that comes after every five years and no one wants to miss it,” he said.
In addition to the state’s police forces, the state election authority is using 350 companies of central paramilitary forces for smooth conduct of the polls.
A day ahead of the polls, suspected militants triggered a blast in the Manipur capital at Thangmeiban Iikamdewan Leiki locality under Imphal West district. One person received minor injuries in the Friday bombing.
On Thursday, a blast took place just 2 km from Kangla Fort, where the state’s official Republic Day function was celebrated. No one was injured. Militants exploded two powerful bombs in Kakwa area in Imphal West district Wednesday night with no casualty.
On Jan 22, militants triggered a powerful explosion outside the residence of I. Hemochandra Singh, the speaker of the outgoing assembly and Congress party candidate in the state. The blast killed one person.