Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 29
Over 64 per cent voter turnout was witnessed in the 72 parliamentary constituencies of nine states that went to the polls in the fourth phase today, said the Election Commission. The turnout was up from the 2014 elections, when it was 61.48 per cent.
The voting, however, saw violence in West Bengal and EVM glitches in some areas. Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said: “Barring a few incidents, polling remained almost peaceful.”
Nearly 66 per cent turnout was recorded in the third phase, which saw polling in 116 seats. In the first two phases, polling was conducted in 91 and 95 seats on April 11 and 18, respectively.
In the Hindu heartland states, where the BJP had won 30 out of 32 seats in 2014, 67.65 per cent turnout was recorded in Rajasthan (13 seats), 58.02 per cent in Uttar Pradesh (13) and 66.92 per cent Madhya Pradesh (6).
West Bengal recorded the highest turnout of 76.66 per cent in the eight seats, though clashes broke out between supporters of rival parties in Nanoor, Rampurhat, Nalhati and Suri areas of Birbhum seat, leaving several persons injured. In Barabani, BJP candidate from Asansol and Union minister Babul Supriyo’s vehicle was vandalised allegedly by TMC workers outside a polling station, while in the Dubrajpur area, central security force personnel reportedly fired into the air to disperse people who attacked them on being prevented from entering the booths with mobile phones.
An FIR was registered against Supriyo for allegedly getting into an argument with poll officials, an EC official said. The stakes are high for the BJP, which had won 56 of the 72 constituencies in the 2014 polls. Around 12.79 crore people were eligible to vote in today’s phase, which marked the start of polling in Rajasthan and MP, while elections came to an end in Maharashtra and Odisha.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2DEss5c
via Today’s News Headlines
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