75 p.c turnout in Pondicherry

By S. Nadarajan

PONDICHERRY, MAY 10. An estimated 75 per cent of the 6.58 lakh voters in the Union Territory today exercised franchise in the Assembly poll held in all four regions of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. B. Vijayan, told newspersons that as details of polling relating to a good number of rural constituencies were yet to be available.

Mr. Vijayan said the highest percentage of polling was recorded in Yanam (83 per cent) and Kuruvinatham constituency came second with 82.54 per cent.

The CEO said the use of electronic voting machines in all the 788 booths proved to be successful. Where the machines were found to be defective last night, they were replaced with sound equipment in eight booths. There was no failure of working of the machines after the poll began.

Mr. Vijayan noted with satisfaction that the polling went off peacefully except for a few minor skirmishes here and there. The lowest per centage of polling was noticed in the Bussy Assembly segment in the town limits. This constituency registered 50.77 per cent of polling.He said the Mahe constituency registered 72 per cent and Palloor in Mahe region recorded 71 per cent.

Some voters had attempted to impersonate using ration cards. No arrest was made according to details available to him so far. Police were deployed in sufficient numbers. Mr. Vijayan said the Yanam region recorded brisk polling and even within four hours of the commencement of polling, the region having only one constituency recorded 53 per cent polling. Although the mercury touched 42 degrees Celsius, voters braved the heat and waited for their turn to exercise their franchise.

A team of reporters visiting booths could see women voters turning up in larger numbers than men in rural areas.

There was nearly 25 per cent of polling within two hours of commencement of polling in Kuruvinatham, Nettapakkam, Tirubuvanai (reserved) and Mannadipet constituencies.

The Lt. Governor, Dr Rajani Rai, exercised her franchise in the booth housed in Town Hall in Rajbhavan, while the Chief Minister exercised his franchise in Neduncadu, his home town in Karaikal region.

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Section  : State Elections
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