Madhya Pradesh registers highest ever polling of above 70 per cent; 80 per cent turnout in Mizoram

Bhopal: Barring a few stray incidents, casting of votes during Monday's assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh passed off peacefully with polling percentage likely to cross 70, which would be an all-time high.

Briefing reporters after the end of polling, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind said that as of now, there seems to be no possibility of re-poll in any polling station of any constituency.

Govind said that the poll percentage during the 2008 assembly elections was around 65 per cent, adding that it would surely cross 70 per cent this time. He said that polling had been boycotted in some polling stations in more than 10 districts, by people who were angry with lack of construction of roads in their areas.

Govind said that there were reports of firing in the air at some places in the Lahar constituency in the Bhind district and pointed out that no was injured. He said that in three Maoist-affected constituencies in Balaghat district was held from 0700 hours to 1500 hours and added that the average polling percentage in them was around 70.

The State Chief Electoral Officer said that the elections were held under strict security and added that choppers were used for the purpose in the Balaghat and Singrauli districts.

Govind said that the maximum number of incidents took place in Lahar constituency and these included firing by unidentified people, exchange of fire between Congress and BJP as well as firing on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supporter by a Congress supporter. He said that in Chowrai in the same constituency, an electronic voting machine was broken by the crowd, but it was replaced and voting resumed after a gap.

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In Ater constituency in the Bhind district, one person was injured in stone pelting and added that there was firing at three or four places in the Sumawali constituency in Morena district, though no casualties were reported.

Govind said that incidents of minor altercations were reported from Bhopal, Mhow and Tikamgarh and added that a case was registered against Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Women and Child Development Ranjana Baghel.

A neck-and-neck contest has been witnessed between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with the former trying hard to secure a hat-trick of wins in the assembly elections and the latter fighting to return to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is contesting from Budhni and Vidisha constituencies, while the leader of the Congress opposition Ajay Singh is in the race from Churhat constituency in Vidisha district.

Next: 80 per cent turnout in peaceful polling in Mizoram

80 per cent turnout in peaceful polling in Mizoram

Aizawl: The fate of 142 candidates, including Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and his 11 ministers, was sealed in EVMs as 80 per cent polling was witnessed today in the election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly which passed off peacefully.

Polling ended at 3.30 pm with an estimated turnout of 80 per cent of the 6.9 lakh voters, state Joint Chief Electoral Officer H Lalengmawia said. He said that the percentage of turnout could rise after data is received from remote areas.

The polling percentage was over 80 per cent in three seats adjoining Manipur - Chalfilh, Tuivawl and Serlui, where there were allegations of insurgents intimidating voters, Lalengmawia said.

People wait at a polling station to cast their votes during Assembly elections in Aizawal on Monday - PTI

The ruling Congress fielded candidates in all the 40 seats and the Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA), the alliance of Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and the Maraland Democratic Alliance (MDF) also contested in 40 seats.

The MNF, senior partner of the alliance contested 31 seats, while the MPC and the MDF fielded candidates in eight and one constituency respectively.

The Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) contested in 38 seats, the BJP in 17, the NCP in two seats, Jai Maha Bharath Party in one while there were four Independents. All the seats were reserved for ST nominees, except Lunglei South which was for general candidates.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla cast his vote with his wife Lal Riliani at Zarkawt-II Polling Station at Babutlang area in Zarkawt locality. The chief minister contested from two constituencies – Serchhip, his home turf, and neighbouring Hrangturzo.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Lal Thanhawla said, "I have high hopes that we will retain power with a thumping majority by bagging the same number of seats (32) if not more," he said. The people, he said, wanted the Congress to be in power for development work and in running a clean government.

MNF leader and former chief minister Zoramthanga contested from the Tuipui East seat on the Mizoram-Myanmar border. For the first time, a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system was used in 10 constituencies. It was first experimented with in an Assembly bypoll in Nagaland in September.

The Congress, which had won 32 seats in 2008, fielded 31 of the sitting MLAs. Only Nirupam Chakma was replaced by B D Chakma, chief executive member of the Chakma Autonomous District Council. There were six women candidates - three fielded by BJP, one each by Congress and MNF and one rebel MNF candidate.

Like in earlier elections, the churches in Mizoram including the Presbyterian Church of India Mizoram Synod, the Baptist Church of Mizoram and also the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC) issued poll messages listing out dos and don'ts.

The church's election watchdog, the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) was instrumental in keeping the election campaign extremely low profile while polling was also a low-key affair.

The diktats of the MPF, more stringent than the guidelines of the Election Commission, restricted candidates, campaigners and party workers while door-to-door canvassing was completely prohibited since November 15.

An additional 31 companies of central para-military forces and state police of neighbouring states were deployed for the polls besides the seven armed battalions of the state police.