Polling is underway for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Voting is taking place for six Lok Sabha constituencies in North Eastern states in this phase.

Of these, two seats each are in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and one each in Manipur and Nagaland. Voting for the lone contituency in Mizoram, which was also scheduled for today, has been postponed till Friday.

Polling is also taking place for 49 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh. 144 candidates including 7 women are in the fray for 49 of the 60 Assembly seats in the state. Voting, which began at 7 AM, will end at 5 PM.

Our correspondent adds that men, women, young and elderly voters – all representing various tribes including Galo, Adi, Nishi, Nocte, Tangsa, Idu etc. among many others – have turned up to exercise their franchise. This time the voters' awareness measures initiated by the Election Commission under SVEEP are likely to show significant impact.

Two Lok Sabha seats – Arunachal East and Arunachal West – are likely to witness multi-cornered contest with Congress, BJP, NCP and People's Party of Arunachal fielding their candidates, besides independents.

For Arunachal East Parliamentary seats, Union Minister and Congress candidate Ninong Ering is pitted against BJP nominee Tapir Gao and People's Party of Arunachal candidate Wangman Lowangcha.

Eight candidates are in the fray for Arunachal West Lok Sabha seat. Prominent among them are Congress nominee and sitting MP Takam Sanjoy and former MP and BJP candidate Kiren Rijiju.

For two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya – Shillong and Tura, 10 candidates are in the fray. Prominent among them are National People's Party chief PA Sangma, sitting Congress MP Vincent Pala, former student leader Paul Lyngdoh and church leader PBM Basaiawmoit.

Our correspondent adds that people have started to come out of their houses to cast their votes in Shillong today morning. According to the Meghalaya Chief Electoral office, more than 15 lakh 67 thousands voters are expected to exercise their franchise today. In these voters, 22.62 percent are in the 18 to 25 age group, while 50.43 percent are women. 38 companies of Central paramilitary Forces have been deployed in entire state to ensure peaceful, free and fair polls. Over ten thousand two hundreds government servants have been pressed into action for election duty.

The Shillong Lok Sabha seat is likely to witness a milti-cornered contest between ruling Congress, United Democratic Party and an independent candidate supported by two smaller regional parties. Tura is likely to witness straight contest between Congress and PA Sangma led NPP.

For Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat, 10 candidates are in the fray. Prominent among them are sitting Congress MP Thangso Baite, Gangmumei Kamei of BJP, C. Doungel of NCP, Kim Gangte of Trinamool Congress, Soso Lorho of Naga People's Front, L Gangte of JD-U and MK Zou of Aam Aadmi Party.
Our correspondent reports that polling began exactly at 7 this morning. With fine weather condition, the voters turnout in all the polling stations is remarkable. Men and women in their traditional tribal attire are seen in queue in front of polling stations awaiting their turn to cast their votes. Indo-Myanmar border along the Manipur sector has been sealed to check infiltration of anti-social elements across the border.

For lone Parliamentary seat in Nagaland, three candidates are in the fray. They are Chief Minister Neiphiu of Naga People's Front, KV Pusa of Congress and Akheu Achumi of Socialist Party (India).

Our correspondent adds that the he North-Eastern state of Nagaland today is witnessing a large participation in the democratic practice as the people are queuing up outside the polling stations before voting began in the morning. A large number of voters with smiled face and traditional attires holding up their fingers with indelible ink after casting their votes. Voting timing has been fixed by ECI for Nagaland from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M. The Parliamentary election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland will be a three cornered contest. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of Naga Peoples Front, K.V.Pusa of the Indian National Congress and Akhie Achumi of the Socialist Party (India) are in the fray. For smooth conduct of polls in the state. Over 11 lakh 82 thousand electorates will be casting their votes in over 2,000 polling stations.