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Record percentage of polling in Pondicherry, Karaikal region

Special Correspondent

Pondy records 84.08 p.c and Karaikal 81.6 p.c.; no untoward incident anywhere

Photo: T. Singaravelou

EXERCISING FRANCHISE: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy casting his vote at a polling booth in Pondicherry.

Pondicherry: Pondicherry and Karaikal region witnessed a record percentage of polling on Monday.

Chief Electoral Officer of Pondicherry S Kumarasamy told newsmen at the Media Centre that there were no untoward incident in any constituency in the two regions.

He said while Pondicherry recorded 84.08 per cent of polling, Karaikal registered 81.6 per cent. The average polling for these two regions was 82.57 per cent.

The total electorate in these two regions was around 6.13 lakh. Mr. Kumaraswamy said the State average (held in two phases) was being tabulated. He, however, gave the details of the region wise percentage of polling.

In the first phase of polling in Mahe and Yanam regions (which together have three constituencies and went to the poll on May 3) recorded 78.98 per cent and 96.44 per cent respectively. In the second phase held on Monday the percentage of polling were 84.08 in Pondicherry and 81.6 in Karaikal.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said while two constituencies in Pondicherry recorded more than 90 per cent of polling, seventeen constituencies recorded more than 80 per cent but below 90 per cent.

He said the remaining eight constituencies spread over two regions recorded more than 70 per cent of polling.

He said there was no problem with electronic voting machines by and large, although in two booths (one each in Pondicherry and Karaikal) the machines developed some snags. However they were replaced and polling went on smoothly.

Mr. Kumarasamy said when compared to previous elections held in 2001 and also when compared to the last Lok Sabha elections, the polling percentage this time showed an increase by ten per cent.

The District Election officer G. Theva Needhi Dhas told a questioner that the percentage of polling now seen was heavy and might have no parallel in any of the elections held since 1977. The Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Pondicherry P.T. Rudra Goud was also present.

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