Imphal: Polling for the first phase of the assemblyelections in Manipur began in 19 of the 60 assembly constituencies at 7:00 AMtoday (Feb 8, 2007)_ amidst tight security.

An electorate of about six lakh voters, including three lakh women, wereexpected to exercise their franchise in 718 polling stations where EVMs arebeing used.

Of the polling stations, 271 have been marked hyper sensitive and 447 assensitive, officials said.

The fate of prominent leaders including Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, SpeakerManirudin Sheikh and former Finance minister Chungkhokai Doungel, all belongingto the Congress, will be decided in this phase.

Senior Manipur People's party leaders L Tomba Singh and L Jatra Singh are alsoin the fray.

Adequate security personnel have been posted at all the polling stations forsmooth conduct of the elections, the officials said.

Voting will end at 3:30 pm.

The second phase polls will be held on February 14 in 29 assemblyconstituencies and the third and final phase on February 23 in 12.