Voting underway for bypoll in Manipur's Hiyanglam constituency

Voting for by-election to the prestigious Hiyanglam Assembly constituency in Manipur's Thoubal district is underway on Friday.

Voters have been tuning out to cast their votes since 8.00 am.

The main contest is between the BJP and the Congress.

Prominent candidates in the fray include E Dwijamani (INC), M Dhanabir (BJP), Th Laiba Manipur State congress Party (MSCP), Y Radheshyam (ITC) and M Amutombi Manipur Peoples Party (MPP).

The by-election was necessitated by the death of Maibam Kunjo (Trinamool Congress), a former information minister, three months ago. Maibam Dhanabir, BJP candidate in Hiyanglam constituency, is his eldest son.

Of the 24,000 voters, 8% exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting, election officials said.