Record 86 pc turnout in last phase of Manipur polls

Manipur on Wednesday witnessed a record turnout of 86 per cent in the second and last phase of polling in 22 Assembly constituencies, the highest since 2009 general elections.

The polling went off peacefully "barring a couple of stray incidents", Election Commission Director General Sudeep Jain told reporters here.

Jain said the polling percentage could go up as the figures were available for 75 per cent of the total 1,151 polling stations covering 10 districts of the northeastern state.

The number of people who turned up to vote in the remaining 25 per cent polling stations will be known later as these are located in far-flung areas where no means of communication is available, he added. The official said that the first phase polling, held on March 4 in 38 seats, recorded 86 per cent turnout. "The percentage of males who voted on Wednesday was 84 per cent. Female voter turnout was 89 per cent. There was no boycott of polling reported," Jain said.