Imphal (Manipur) [India], April 21 (HBTV): After the conclusion of first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Manipur’s chief electoral officer (CEO) has announced that re-polling would be conducted at 11 polling booths of the inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.  

Voting will be conducted again at the stations on April 22, according to Manipur electoral establishment. 

This decision was made following a directive from the Election Commission, which declared the initial polls held on April 19 as void.  

Manipur saw a voter turnout of 69.18 per cent till 7 pm on Friday. 

According to CEO's order, "The Election Commission of India has, under Sections 58(2) and 58A(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, directed that the poll taken on April 19 (Friday) in respect of 11 polling stations listed in the table below of 1-inner Manipur parliamentary constituency to be void and appointed April 22, 2024 (Monday) as the date for taking fresh poll at the said polling stations with hours of poll from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM."   

The affected polling stations where reelection will be conducted are Moirangkampu Sajeb Upper Primary School and S Ibobi Primary School (East Wing), in the Khurai assembly constituency; four in Kshetrigao; one in Thongju; three in Uripok, and one in Konthoujam.   

On April 19, incidents of violence were reported at some of the polling booths in conflict-torn Manipur. Gunmen allegedly opened fire and even destroyed EVMs.   

One civilian was reported to be injured after the firing.  Clashes also were reported at a polling booth in Moirangkampu Sajeb Awang Leikai of Imphal in Manipur during voting.  

A block-level officer for Moirangkampu, Sajeb Surbala Devi said two men came and asked for the polling agents of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. They took the Congress agent outside and then two men opened fire from inside the car during which one person was injured, the official said.  

All 32 assembly segments of the inner Manipur parliamentary constituency and 15 assembly segments of the outer Manipur (ST) parliamentary constituency went to vote.   

The voting for the remaining 13 segments of Outer Manipur will be conducted in the second phase on April 26.   

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1 to elect 543 members to the 18th Lok Sabha.