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Over 75 per cent polling in Puducherry

— Photos: Special Arrangement and T. Singaravelou

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam casting his vote in a polling booth at Maducarai.on Wednesday.

PUDUCHERRY: An estimated 78 to 80 per cent of 7,62,440 eligible voters exercised their franchise in the Union Territory. But for the use of mild force in two places to disperse crowd, polling went on peacefully in all 30 Assembly segments in the four regions of the Union Territory, District Election Officer G. Ragesh Chandra said.

A middle-aged person died of heart attack while coming out of a polling booth in Yanam and two government officials on poll duty fell ill in Puducherry, he told reporters here on Wednesday.

A youth was arrested in Vembakerapalayam when he attempted to persuade voters not to exercise their franchise, he said.

Congress candidate V. Narayanasamy casting his vote in a polling booth at Bussy Street.

Yanam region recorded 92 per cent, which is the highest in the whole of the Union Territory, Mr. Chandra said. Though the exact percentage of the total votes polled would be known by late Wednesday, it was estimated to touch around 80, he said, adding that the previous highest was 80.36 per cent in 1980 and 85.32 in 1974.

Except in four booths, polling started at 7 a.m. and large number of persons turned up early morning.

In the four booths, polling was delayed owing to technical problems with the electronic voting machines.

In several booths in rural areas, women voters turned up in large numbers from early morning, he said.

While Congress candidate V. Narayanasamy exercised his franchise at a polling booth on Bussy Street, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) candidate cast vote in V.V.P. Nagar. Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, his ministerial colleagues, former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and Puducherry Munnetra Congress leader P. Kannan were among the prominent personalities who exercised their franchise.

Late in the evening, activists belonging to the PMK and the Congress almost came to blows at Ariankuppam.

According to Superintendent of Police (Rural) V. Deivasigamani, a section of PMK activists shouted slogans hailing Mr. Ramadass and proclaimed his victory when the Congress candidate reached the spot.

This resulted in an exchange of words between PMK activists and the Congress candidate. Tension brew as Congress members gathered in strength.

However, police pacified the crowd and brought the situation under control, Mr. Deivasigamani said.

Polling for the Cuddalore Parliamentary constituency by and large went on peacefully on Wednesday. Till 4.30 p.m. voter turn out was 60 per cent, according to Collector Rajendra Ratnoo.

Except a stray incident at Pethanaickenkuppam in which two All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supporters and five Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) men sustained injuries in a clash with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres, the polling in the entire constituency passed on without any untoward incidents.

In connection with the Pethanaickenkuppam incident three persons were arrested. Soon after the trouble erupted, Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar rushed there and defused the situation.

Those injured were admitted to a private hospital in Cuddalore.

The Collector said that there was no incidence of either booth capturing or casting of bogus votes anywhere in the constituency. Mr. Ratnoo further said that 75 striking forces and 135 mobile parties were pressed into service in the sensitive and hypersensitive areas.

PMK candidate M. Ramadass casting his vote at V. V P Nagar

The micro-observers, who were independent authorities and directly reporting to the Election Observers, too had no adverse comments to make.

At places such as Danish Mission School, technical snag in the electronic voting machines, held up the polling for two hours. Link-errors at Jayalakshmi School, Government Higher Secondary School, Municipal School and the District Development Council, delayed polling for some time.

At Puliyur, a group of Dalit voters alleged that they were not allowed to vote, and hence, they staged a road roko that obstructed traffic on the Cuddalore – Vadalur Road for about an hour.

At Chidambaram constituency, 98 voters at Maalaikatti Street polling booth and 198 at the Pudhuchathiram polling station could not cast their votes. Even though they were in possession of valid Electors’ Photo Identity Cards, their names did not figure in the electoral rolls because they were not present during verification.

The polling for the Villupuram and Kallakurichi parliamentary constituencies passed off peacefully without any untoward incidents .

According to Collector R.Palanisamy, the Villupuram constituency registered 70 per cent voter turnout while Kallakurichi recorded about 62 per cent.

However, voters at Kurur in Kallakurichi, Kuladeepamangalam in Thirukkoliur and Thiruvampattu in Mayilam blocks boycotted polls owing to various reasons.

About 900 voters at Kurur sought the creation of a separate panchayat as they did not want to remain with the existing Mudiyanur panchayat.

At Kuladeepamangalam, there was difference of opinion between two groups about the conduct of a temple festival.

At Thiruvampattu, people had been urging the authorities to set up a Primary Health Centre but it was yet to materialise.

A Special Sub-Inspector Pattusamy (58), attached to the mobile party on poll duty, died following a complaint of heart ailment.

He was to retire from service next month.

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