In biggest round so far, India votes across 12 states
18 April 2014 2:58 PM GMT
The Indian voter’s enthusiasm for the democratic process continued unabated as polling for an unprecedented 121 seats on a single day in a multi-phase election to the 545-member Lok Sabha took place on Thursday. Brisk to very heavy polling was reported as polling was held across 12 states. With this round, balloting has been completed in close to 50
percent of seats.
Polling was very heavy in the four constituencies in West Bengal with 80 percent voting recorded in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar till 5 pm. Voting was heavy in the inner Manipur seat with 80 percent polling that ended at 4 pm.
In Odisha, an average of 53 per cent polling was recorded by 3 pm for 11 Lok Sabha and 77 Assembly constituencies where voting has taken place in the second and last phase of elections.
The Lok Sabha constituencies that went to poll include 28 seats in Karnataka, 20 in Rajasthan, 19 in Maharashtra, 11 each in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, 10 in Madhya Pradesh, 7 in Bihar, 6 in Jharkhand, 4 in West Bengal, 3 in Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
While some seats witnessed a massive rush of voters pushing the turnout to well over 70 per cent, several others saw modest figure but still much better than 2009. The fate of 1,769 candidates has been sealed in EVMs which will be known on 16 May.
In Chhattisgarh, about 65 per cent of voting was recorded in three constituencies that went to the polls. Brisk balloting has been reported from semi urban and rural areas. Polling remained by and large peaceful. Polling in the Maoist-affected areas also passed off peacefully. Barring stray incidents of violence, no major untoward incident has been reported from anywhere.
Meanwhile, naxals triggered a landmine blast in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency. No one was injured. The naxals targeted a polling party escorted by security forces returning after conducting elections in the region. Additional Director General of Police (Naxal operation) R K Vij said the incident took place under Bhanupratappur police station when a polling party was returning from Parvi booth after concluding polling at 3 pm.
Voting was by and large peaceful with more than 75 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise as the 11 seats of Uttar Pradesh recorded over 60 per cent polling. Karnataka recorded 56 per cent till 5 pm while in Bihar voting was brisk with the final figure expected to be around 60 per cent.
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