Manipur on Saturday witnessed over 85.94 per cent voter turnout till 4 pm in the by-elections for four assembly seats, amid tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol, an Election Commission official said.

A total of 1, 33,136 voters were eligible to exercise their voting rights in 203 polling stations to decide the fate of 11 candidates in four assembly constituencies. The Polling began from 7 am amid tight security and existing Covid-19 protocols. Notable among the candidates is the state agriculture minister Oinam Lukhoi Singh of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) from Wangoi assembly constituency in Imphal West. Former agriculture minister, Md Abdul Nasir is also contesting as an independent candidate in the Lilong assembly constituency in Thoubal district. 

It may be noted that by-elections in the state were necessitated after their respective sitting MLAs resigned from the Manipur Legislative Assembly in August 2020. All safety measures are in place as the voting is taking place in the midst of the raging COVID-19 , the official said. Electors with COVID-19 related symptoms were allowed to vote in the last hour of the poll. All polling personnel have been provided with personal protection equipment (PPE). The counting of votes will be conducted on 10 November.