Campaigning ends for Manipur's seat

Imphal, April 20 (IANS) Campaigning for the second phase of election in Manipur - scheduled a day before the rest of the country - ended Monday, with preparations for the voting almost complete, election officials said.

Manipur is the only state where the second phase of elections will be held Wednesday, while in the rest of the country it will be held the following day, the officials said. Of its two seats, polling in Outer Manipur was held in the first phase April 16.

In Inner Manipur, the battle lines are drawn with the fight expected to be a triangular contest between M. Nara of the Communist Party of India (CPI), T. Meinya of the Congress and Th. Chaoba of Manipur People's Party, although there are seven candidates in the fray.

A 825,019-strong electorate, including 434,000 women voters, would exercise their franchise in 970 polling stations, the officials said.

The Moirang assembly constituency has the highest number of voters (32,699) and the Thanga assembly constituency has the lowest number of voters (19,842).

Voting begins from 7 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Wednesday.