The Hindu : Front Page : 50-55 per cent turnout in final phase

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

50-55 per cent turnout in final phase

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, MAY 10. An estimated 50 to 55 per cent voter turnout was recorded today in the final phase of elections for the 14th Lok Sabha in 182 constituencies spread over 12 States and four Union Territories. Assembly elections were also held in Sikkim.

The Deputy Election Commissioner, A.N. Jha, told presspersons that polling was peaceful, barring stray incidents of violence. Six persons were killed in the incidents — three in West Bengal, two in Punjab and one in Uttar Pradesh. Reports of booth capturing and snatching of electronic voting machines were also received from different States.

Giving the figures for the 12 States, Mr. Jha said Sikkim recorded the highest turnout of (78 per cent); Assam (60 per cent); West Bengal (65 to 70 per cent); Madhya Pradesh (42 to 45 per cent); Jammu and Kashmir (44 per cent); Haryana (60-65 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (60 per cent), Punjab (55 to 60 per cent), Tamil Nadu (55 to 60 per cent), Uttaranchal (55 to 60 per cent), Kerala (55-58 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (50 per cent), the Union Territory of Lakshadweep (72 per cent); Delhi (50 per cent); Chandigarh (50 to 55 per cent) and Pondicherry (65 per cent). The percentages were only tentative, he said adding that the actual figures would be known only tomorrow.

One CPI (M) activist was gunned down in Jamboni of West Midnapore district, West Bengal, while another person was killed when a crude bomb exploded in the same area. One person was shot dead in the Punjab's Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency while another was lynched, allegedly by a mob, in Tarn Taran, also in Punjab. Police fired in the air at three places to quell clashes between political rivals.

In Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur-Doda constituency, militants attacked the Malothi and Panjgrain polling stations just after balloting commenced. Polling was suspended for half-an-hour in the Malothi polling station after the attack. An incident of firing was reported from Haryana's Bhiwani.

Mr. Jha said that in Sivakasi constituency, a personal security guard of the Tamil Nadu Minister, Inbatamizhan, opened fire against the MDMK candidate and that a report had been sought from the District Collector.

Counting of votes for the 542 Lok Sabha seats, excluding Chapra where repolling is scheduled for May 31, will be held in 1,213 centres spread over 854 towns on May 13. The counting will begin at 8 a.m. and the trends are expected to be available from 10 a.m. The first result is expected by 1 p.m.

Counting in Bihar's Siwan and Bettiah constituencies would be taken up after the Commission considered the report of its two members who visited the constituencies following complaints of rigging. Counting for elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly would be taken up tomorrow and results of the 292 seats declared by evening, he said. The necessary gazette notification for putting the new Assembly in place would be made by May 12. The counting for the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Orissa and Sikkim would be taken up on May 13 along with that of the Lok Sabha elections.

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