Fifty percent polling has been reported in Kerala. Brisk polling is on in all the 20 Parliamentary constituencies of the State.This is for the first time in the history of the State that 50 percent polling has taken place by noon. Enthusiasm among young voters was quite visible,across the State.
50 polling was recorded in Kannur parliamentary constituency, followed by Kasargod, Chalakkudy and Alappuzha, which recorded 48 per cent each. Vadakara recorded 47 per cent.
269 candidates are in the fray, of which 27 are women. The voting has been peaceful and no major untoward incident has been reported so far.
Polling is at a slow pace in Chhattisgarh’s tribal Bastar Lok Sabha constituency. Nearly 30 per cent of about 13 lakh voters have exercised their franchise. Polling in seven out of eight assembly segments will end at 3 PM, while, in Jagdalpur assembly segment polling will end at 4 PM.
Our correspondent reports that in tribal Bastar lok sabha constituency, Maoists have opened random fire near half a dozen polling stations in Narayanpur, Sukma, Bastar and Dantewada districts. However, there is no casualty and polling remained uninterrupted. Tight security arrangements are in place at the polling stations.
In Chitrakot, Jagdalpur and Kondagaon assembly segments , moderate polling is taking place while low voter turnout is witnessed in Maoist affected Sukma, Narayanpur and Bijapur assembly segments.
In Haryana, polling started at sharp 7 in the morning and young and old are seen casting their votes with full enthusiasm. Polling is going on peacefully in the State and all arrangements are in place for the convenience of the voters.
Our correspondent adds that patrolling parties of Haryana Police and polling supervisors of the election department are making regular rounds of the polling stations to ensure free, fair and smooth elections. These polling supervisors are also sending the updated information regarding polling and voting percentage via SMS to election department website.
Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda cast his vote at his native village falling under Rohtak lok sabha seat. Other leaders belonging to the 10 lok sabha seats have also casted their votes. With half day passed more and more voters are coming to caste their votes and queues are getting longer and a increase in voter turnout is expected . Young voters can be spotted in big numbers at polling stations. Polling percentage in haryana was 43 per cent and about 50 per cent in Hisar, Kurukshetra and Sirsa lok sabha constituencies
