Polling for the 230-member Assembly in Madhya Pradesh and 40-member Mizoram Assembly was held yesterday. Madhya Pradesh recorded its highest ever 71 per cent polling. The state had recorded 69.78 per cent polling in the last elections. Our correspondent reports that the counting of votes will be taken up on the 8th of next month.He adds that the polling percentage could increase since final figures are yet to be completed. One of the main highlights of the voting was the enthusiastic voting by the first time voters, who came out in increased numbers. The polling remained by and large peaceful barring few incidents of violence. Two people were killed in Morena and Khargone districts including a nephew of a sitting MLA. Hoshangabad recorded the highest over 83 per cent polling while Satna recorded the lowest 54 per cent polling. With yesterday’s polling, the political fate of all the two thousand five hundred eighty three candidates has been sealed in Electronic Voting Machines. Counting of votes will take place on 8th December.
In Mizoram, 81 per cent votes were cast in elections for a new Assembly yesterday. Election officials said, polling was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported. The counting of votes, which will decide the fate of 142 candidates for 40 assembly seats, will be held on the 9th of next month.
Meanwhile in poll-bound Rajasthan, campaigning is on in full swing. Many senior leaders and star campaigners are addressing election meetings. Our correspondent reports that the polling will be held on the 1st of next month.Electioneering in the national capital is also gaining momentum for the Assembly polls, which will take place on the 4th of next month. In the wake of the elections, the Department of Telecom, DoT has asked mobile operators in Delhi to submit information regarding bulk SMSes of political nature and keep a strict vigil on bulk purchase of SIM cards. Official sources said, the DoT has called for a complete prohibition of bulk SMSes from 5 PM on the 2nd of December to 5 PM on the 4th of December.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission, EC has granted two more days to the Aam Aadmi Party, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal to reply to its notice for the Model Code violation. The EC had issued a notice to Kejriwal for appealing to Muslims in Delhi to vote on religious grounds.
Employees of all government and private establishments in all poll-bound states will get a paid holiday on the day of election. The EC said the provisions require that all establishments and shops including those which work on a shift basis shall be closed on the day of polls in the constituency where a general or bye-election is to be held.
