Heavy polling was reported in Kerala with about 74 per cent of voters exercising their franchise to elect 20 Lok Sabha members from the state today. AIR Correspondent reports that Kannur district recorded maximum polling of 80.9 per cent. Pathanamthitta recorded the lowest – 65.8 per cent. Capital Thiruvanathapuram recorded 68 per cent polling.
In Odisha, heavy polling was reported with more than 67 percent voting in the 10 Lok Sabha and 70 state Assembly constituencies this evening. There were reports of Maoists snatching and damaging electronic voting machines in some parts of the state. Re-polling has been ordered in 10 polling booths in Malkangiri and Koraput districts.
The first phase polling was held in these constituencies spread over 19 of the 30 districts in the state.
Baring few minor incidents, polling in 10 Lok Sabaha and 70 state Assembly constituencies in Odisha has been peaceful. Highest polling has been recorded in Angul district with 73 per cent, while Maoist-affected Malkangiri district recorded lowest 48.4 per cent.
In Jharkhand, 58.3 percent of voting was reported when polling ended at 4 PM today for all the four Lok Sabha constituencies. Today was the first phase of three- phase poll in four constituencies- Koderma, Lohardagga, Chatra and Palamu.
Last Lok Sabha election saw 50 to 51 percent voting in these constituencies.
The higher voter turnout percentage than the last Lok Sabha poll in the first phase in Jharkhand, despite naxal call for boycott of the poll, shows that voters have put enhanced faith in democracy.
In Bihar, about 53 percent voting has been reported in the first phase of polls in 6 Lok Sabha constituencies. Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar Ajai Nayak said that barring a few stray incident, polling passed of peacefully in the Sasaram, Karakat, Jamui, Gaya, Nawada and Aurangabad seats. Polling has been deferred at 23 booths following reports of maoist planting land mines at 21 booths in Jamui and 2 in Nawada constituencies. Polling has been also been deferred in another 3 booths at Nawada and 1 at Aurangabad due to chaos created by miscreants.
