Fifth Panchayat election: Tell-tale signs of extravagant campaign

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Oct 5

Election observers for six revenue districts were appointed on October 2 for the fifth Manipur state panchayat elections to be held on October 7 under Manipur state election commission.

At every location, come rain or storm, the candidates are visiting every single house to persuade the voters.  Election offices are visible at every existing lanes and streets. Posters of the candidates are splattered everywhere leaving no spaces behind. One can easily notice tell-tale signs that the candidates are expending excessively to get the voters.

An order was also released by the commission in this regard. The officers elected by the commission as election observers are joint secretary, MOBC and SC, Mannuanching for the Imphal East revenue district, director of census M. Harekrishna for the Imphal west revenue district, special secretary, revenue/MAHUD, M. Joy Singh for Thoubal, director TA/HILLS, Ningam chamroy for Bishnupur, joint secretary, finance, A. Radhabinod sharma for Kakching and director, YAS, Naorem Praveen for Jiribam revenue district.

The order mentioned that the appointed observers will stay at their duties of counting votes until the counting is completely done.

On the other hand, at Thoubal and Kakching revenue districts, the elections campaign is being conducted in full swing by the respective candidates. The candidates are doing everything they can in preparation of getting more voters.

According to report, a total of 1, 29,444 voters alone from Thoubal revenue district will be casting votes to their desired candidates. At the panchayat areas of Lilong sub division, there are 17,155 male voters and 18,496 female voters making a total of 35, 651 voters.

For Thoubal sub division, there are 45,421 male voters and 48,372 female voters making a total of 93,793 voters in the panchayat areas.

Under Thoubal revenue district, there are 10 zilla parishad assembly constituencies, 27 gram panchayat pradhan and 310 gram panchayat members. The 10 Zilla parishadassembly constituencies are Lilong Turel Ahanbi Atoukhong, Leisangthem, Maibam Uchiwa, Wangkhem, Charangpat, Khangabok, Heirok, Sangaiyumpham ,tentha  and Langathel Zilla parishad.

The first three zilla parishads comes under Lilong sub division and the remaining 7 comes under Thoubal sub division.

For Lilong sub division, the seat for Turel ahanbi atoukhong  zilla parishad has been reserved for women. For Thoubal sub division, Wangkhem,Tentha and Langatel have been reserved for women.

There are 10 candidates for zilla parishads of Lilong sub division which has 3 seats. 23 candidates are standing for pradhan and 178 candidates for GP member. 23 GP members have already won uncontested for the division.

23 candidates are standing for the zilla parishads of Thoubal sub division which has seven seats, 56 for the post of pradhan and 346 for GP member. 64 members have won uncontested for the division.

The report further said six polling personnel and 10 police personnel will be stationed at each polling station. Out of the 10, six will be armed while four will be unarmed. 

To avoid unwanted incidents during the election, Thoubal district, deputy commissioner, L. Nabakishor have released an order that those under the district, who possess licence guns should bring them to the nearest police station.

Section 144 under Cr PC, have been also implemented under the district from September 6.

There are six zilla parishads constituency for Kakching revenue district and 15 gram panchayats.  Three assembly constituencies namely Pallel, Wabagai and Sekmai come under SDO/RO Kakching. There are seven gram panchayats, Pallel, Irengband, Keirak, Wabagai, Sekmaijin, Hayel Hangoon, and Arong Nongmaikhong.  

16 candidates at 6 zilla parishads, 41 pradhan candidates at 15 gram panchayats and 68 out of 168 sets for ward member have won uncontested.  212 candidates are fighting for the remaining 104 seats. There are a total of 61,170 voters under the district.

It may be mentioned that the votes will be counted on October 11 and the overall election will be completed on October 16.

From Our Correspondent

THOUBAL | Oct 5

Election observers for six revenue districts were appointed on October 2 for the fifth Manipur state panchayat elections to be held on October 7 under Manipur state election commission.

At every location, come rain or storm, the candidates are visiting every single house to persuade the voters.  Election offices are visible at every existing lanes and streets. Posters of the candidates are splattered everywhere leaving no spaces behind. One can easily notice tell-tale signs that the candidates are expending excessively to get the voters.

An order was also released by the commission in this regard. The officers elected by the commission as election observers are joint secretary, MOBC and SC, Mannuanching for the Imphal East revenue district, director of census M. Harekrishna for the Imphal west revenue district, special secretary, revenue/MAHUD, M. Joy Singh for Thoubal, director TA/HILLS, Ningam chamroy for Bishnupur, joint secretary, finance, A. Radhabinod sharma for Kakching and director, YAS, Naorem Praveen for Jiribam revenue district.

The order mentioned that the appointed observers will stay at their duties of counting votes until the counting is completely done.

On the other hand, at Thoubal and Kakching revenue districts, the elections campaign is being conducted in full swing by the respective candidates. The candidates are doing everything they can in preparation of getting more voters.

According to report, a total of 1, 29,444 voters alone from Thoubal revenue district will be casting votes to their desired candidates. At the panchayat areas of Lilong sub division, there are 17,155 male voters and 18,496 female voters making a total of 35, 651 voters.

For Thoubal sub division, there are 45,421 male voters and 48,372 female voters making a total of 93,793 voters in the panchayat areas.

Under Thoubal revenue district, there are 10 zilla parishad assembly constituencies, 27 gram panchayat pradhan and 310 gram panchayat members. The 10 Zilla parishadassembly constituencies are Lilong Turel Ahanbi Atoukhong, Leisangthem, Maibam Uchiwa, Wangkhem, Charangpat, Khangabok, Heirok, Sangaiyumpham ,tentha  and Langathel Zilla parishad.

The first three zilla parishads comes under Lilong sub division and the remaining 7 comes under Thoubal sub division.

For Lilong sub division, the seat for Turel ahanbi atoukhong  zilla parishad has been reserved for women. For Thoubal sub division, Wangkhem,Tentha and Langatel have been reserved for women.

There are 10 candidates for zilla parishads of Lilong sub division which has 3 seats. 23 candidates are standing for pradhan and 178 candidates for GP member. 23 GP members have already won uncontested for the division.

23 candidates are standing for the zilla parishads of Thoubal sub division which has seven seats, 56 for the post of pradhan and 346 for GP member. 64 members have won uncontested for the division.

The report further said six polling personnel and 10 police personnel will be stationed at each polling station. Out of the 10, six will be armed while four will be unarmed. 

To avoid unwanted incidents during the election, Thoubal district, deputy commissioner, L. Nabakishor have released an order that those under the district, who possess licence guns should bring them to the nearest police station.

Section 144 under Cr PC, have been also implemented under the district from September 6.

There are six zilla parishads constituency for Kakching revenue district and 15 gram panchayats.  Three assembly constituencies namely Pallel, Wabagai and Sekmai come under SDO/RO Kakching. There are seven gram panchayats, Pallel, Irengband, Keirak, Wabagai, Sekmaijin, Hayel Hangoon, and Arong Nongmaikhong.  

16 candidates at 6 zilla parishads, 41 pradhan candidates at 15 gram panchayats and 68 out of 168 sets for ward member have won uncontested.  212 candidates are fighting for the remaining 104 seats. There are a total of 61,170 voters under the district.

It may be mentioned that the votes will be counted on October 11 and the overall election will be completed on October 16.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/4122-fifth-panchayat-election-tell-tale-signs-of-extravagant-campaign