Around 86 per cent of total 1.35 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 4 pm in by- elections to four assembly seats in Manipur on Saturday.

The bypolls were held in the Assembly seats amid tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol.

An estimated 86 per cent electors cast their votes till 4 pm in 203 polling stations, the EC official said.

A total of 1,35,212 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the bypolls to Lilong and Wangjing-Tentha seats in Thoubal district, Saitu in Kangpokpi and Wangoi in Imphal West, the official added.

The voters will decide the fate of 11 candidates in the four Assembly seats of the state.

The by-polls were necessitated after Congress MLAs of the four constituencies had resigned from the state Legislative Assembly.  The Congress legislators also quit the party to join the BJP.

The ruling BJP is contesting in three seats and supporting an independent candidate in Lilong assembly segment, while the opposition Congress is in the fray in all four constituencies.

The Wangoi assembly segment will witness an interesting battle as the National People’s Party (NPP), a coalition partner of the BJP-led government in the state, has fielded its candidate against the nominees of the Congress and the saffron camp.

All safety measures are in place as the voting is taking place in the midst of the raging COVID-19, the official said adding that polling personnel have been provided with personal protection equipment (PPE).

The counting of votes will take place on November 10.