Bypolls in 9 states notch 70 pc turnout

Bypolls in 9 states notch 70 pc turnout
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

New Delhi, Feb 19: A high voter turnout was recorded in byelections to 12 constituencies across nine states to decide the fate of, among others, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers Babulal Marandi and Ajit Jogi, respectively.

The highest turnout of 70 to 75 per cent was recorded in Majithain Punjab, followed by 65 per cent each in Shahpur in Madhya Pradesh and Kadamtala in Tripura. 60 per cent of the voters in Ramgarh in Jharkhand and Asthawan in Bihar turned out to vote while in Marwahi in Chhattisgarh, from where Ajit Jogi is seeking his maiden entry in the Chhattisgarh assembly, the figure was 55-60 per cent.

Nearly 49 per cent turnout was recorded in the three assembly constituencies in UP-Bhartana (55 per cent), Siwalkhas (35 per cent) and Sarsawa (55 per cent).

Barring stray incidents violence in Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, the polling went off pecefully.

Byelections were held today in Ramgarh (Jharkhand), Marwahi (Chhattisgarh), Bhartana, Siwalkhas and Sarsawa (all in Uttar Pradesh), Asthawan (Bihar), Majitha (Punjab), Giddalur and Badvel (Andhra Pradesh), Hindoli (Rajasthan), Shahpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Kadamtala (Tripura).

In Ramgarh, a CRPF jawan was injured when an unruly mob hurled stones near a booth in Kankebad area of the constituency. Police fired five rounds of fire in the air to disperse the mob. Official sources said a group of villagers tried to disturb polling by throwing stones at the police party and voters.

In Asthwana constituency in Bihar, where 18 candidates are in fray, some disturbances were witnessed at booth number 162 located in Sarmera village of the district where armed criminals opened fire in the air to scare away voters. The security forces deployed at the booth, however, frustrated their attempts, forcing them to flee.

In Giddalur constituency in Andhra, one of the supporters of TDP member of parliament B Nagi Reddy, who entered Podalakuntpalli village with deadly weapons, was caught and beaten up by the villagers. He was later handed over to Prakasham district superintendent of police (SP) Kumar Viswajeetha.

The Congress workers in the constituency have also urged the SP to restrict movements of Nagi Reddy and his wife, Sobha, a TDP MLA, who were seen moving freely and entering the polling stations without any obstruction.

Police also seized vehicles carrying supporters of both the ruling TDP and the opposition Congress.

In Majitha assembly constituency in Punjab, an Akali supporter, identified as Mandeep Singh, was roughed up by Congress workers when he allegedly attempted to cast a bogus vote at a booth in Sohian village. Similarly a Congress worker was manhandled when he tried unsuccessfully to cast a bogus vote. There were reports of verbal duels between Akali and Congress workers at certain places. But the situation was quickly diffused following police intervention.

Polling remained suspended for about an hour at five booths, including Udoke, Ghanshampura, Ram Diwali, Mehmoodpura and Taneil due to mechanical faults in the EVMs. Polling at all these booths, however, resumed after rectifying the fault or replacing the EVMs.