Photo : IANSImphal: The first phase of Manipur Assembly elections saw a record voter turnout of 88.63% of the total 12,09,439 voters in the state. Voter turnout of Male is 87.29% and that of females is 89.96%. Not only just voter turnout but there are also more female voters in the first phase of Manipur elections than males. Out of over 12 lakh electors, 5,80,607 are male, 6,28,657 are female and 175 are transgender voters.The female electors have displayed a high level of enthusiasm in not just voter turnout but in mass participation of the overall electoral process. Times Now visited Manipur in the first phase of elections on February 28. The female voters especially the first-time voters and the elderly were at the forefront. “In Manipur, women’s empowerment has always been cherished. I am here with my mother and aunt and we are very excited to cast our vote,” said Simran Devi, a resident of Ghari, a small locality in Imphal.Interestingly, four Assembly Constituencies (AC) namely 13- Singjamei, 14-Yaiskul, 15-Wangkhei and 58- Churachandpur were entirely manned by all women polling teams. 79 and 381 polling stations were earmarked as Model and women polling stations respectively in Phase-I where the Polling Stations were colorfully decorated and voters had a mesmerizing voting experience. All the polling stations were beautifully decorated with selfie booths, welcome gates including red carpet welcome, especially in all women and model polling stations.At Srivan High School, in the home constituency of the incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Biren Singh had voted saw divine rituals being offered in the beginning. The first voter was also a woman who was in line and ready with documents way ahead of time.However, amid the vibrancy and the enthusiasm, the poll violence incidents cannot be neglected that occurred across the five districts where polling was conducted. The incidents of damage of EVMs by unknown miscreants have been reported in seven polling stations at 46-Saikul AC, 5l-Saitu AC, 56-Thanlon AC, 57-Henglep AC and 60-Singhat AC. FIRs have been registered in all these cases.Another, issue that was raised is the lack of political representation of women. Out of the 173 candidates in the first phase, 15 are women and in the second phase, there are only two women candidates. Times Now spoke to Miradevi, incumbent Congress MLA from Patsoi AC who stated that representation has only increased from earlier. “The situation is better than earlier and it will only get better in the coming years,” said Miradevi.