IMPHAL, May 23 - The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to open its account by winning one Lok Sabha seat, while its coalition partner, Naga People�s Front (NPF), is also expected to win the second Parliamentary constituency in Manipur as per the latest counting reports available here.
Manipur has two Lok Sabha seats � Inner Manipur and Outer (ST) Manipur Parliamentary seats.
BJP candidate Dr RK Ranjan Singh is leading by 23,263 votes against his nearest Congress rival, O Nabakishore, in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat as per the counting report available till the filing of this report.
On the other hand, NPF candidate Lorho S Pfoze is leading by 81,610 votes against his nearest Congress rival, H Shokhopao Mate, in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
So far, Dr Ranjan of the BJP has got 2,45,029 votes, while Nabakishore has secured 2,22,014 votes. CPI candidate Dr M Nara who stood second in 2014 has got 1,22,255 votes.
Lorho of the NPF has got 3,61,210 votes, while Shokhopao Mate has secured 2,78,093 votes so far. Congress candidate K James has received 1,38,350 votes. The counting was still.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress won both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur. For ensuring smooth counting, which started at 8 am in 32 halls for EVMs and two halls for others in all the 11 election districts, elaborate security arrangements were made with a three-tier security cover in most of the counting centres with the State police at the entry gates and Central security forces around the counting halls.
