Imphal: A total of 78.03 per cent voting was recorded in the first phase of the Manipur Assembly polls for 38 seats in five districts of Imphal West, Kangpokpi, Imphal East, and Churachandpur. 

The voting has sealed the fates of 173 candidates, including Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh from Heingang, deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh from Uripok, state Congress chief N Lokesh Singh from Nambol and speaker Y Khemchand Singh from Singjamei, The polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Kangpokpi had the highest voter turnout, at 82.97 per cent. Imphal East had a voter turnout of 76.64 per cent. Churachandpur had the highest voter turnout of the day, at 74.45 per cent, while Bishnupur had the lowest turnout, at 73.44 per cent, and Imphal West district had the highest turnout, at 82.19 per cent.

Manipur's assembly elections will be held in two phases, with the first phase taking place on February 28. The second phase of voting will take place on March 5. During the final hour of voting, Covid patients were permitted to vote. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on 10 March 2022.

The previous assembly elections were held in March 2017. After the election, a coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party, National People's Party, Naga People's Front and Lok Janshakti Party formed the state government, with N. Biren Singh becoming Chief Minister.