An
electorate of 17,40,576, including 8,82,236 woman voters, are eligible
to exercise their franchise to choose their representatives from among
279 candidates in the 10th assembly polls.
A
total of 12,967 polling personnel have been deployed to conduct the
elections which began at 7 am and would continue till 4 pm.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh cast his vote at a polling station in Khangabok of Thoubal district, officials said.
Around
350 companies of security personnel including 270 central para military
forces were deployed besides the state armed police.
Prominent
candidates whose fate would be sealed on Saturday include the Chief
Minister who is contesting from Thoubal constituency, former vice
chancellor of Manipur university Ng Bijoy (Khurai) and Forest Minister
Th Debendra (Jiribam).
Manipur
has nine districts - Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnnupur and Thoubal
(all in valley) and Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and
Chandel in the hills.
Security
forces are keeping a tab on the situation in the state, where blasts
have taken place in the past few days, amid reports that insurgent
groups might target some candidates.