IMPHAL, Jan 27 � Manipur goes to polls tomorrow in the shadow of bomb attacks by militants to mark the start of crucial Assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, reports PTI.
Authorities are keeping a close watch on the security situation in this North-Eastern state during voting to elect the 60-member Assembly amid reports that some insurgent groups might disrupt polling at some places. A total of 279 candidates are in the fray to enter the 10th Assembly.
Official sources said today that only central para-military personnel would be deployed at the polling stations where no state security personnel would be present.
But if required, state personnel would join the central forces in manning the polling stations, the sources said.
Elections in Punjab and Uttarakhand will be held on January 30 and in Goa on March 3, the same day when the final phase of the seven-phased polls in UP will end. Counting of votes is due to be taken up on March 6. A majority of the polling and security personnel have reached polling stations across Manipur, the election office said. In Imphal East and Imphal West districts, they would reach by tonight.
There would be 12,967 polling personnel to conduct the voting at 2,357 polling stations.
