Bhopal: Fate of 110 candidates contesting for seven parliamentary constituencies was sealed in EVMs on Monday. Voting percentage in Madhya Pradesh was recorded at 65.56%, a raise of about 8%. In 2014, these seven constituencies witnessed 57.86% voting. In phase one, the polling percentage stood at 74.88% against 2014 figures of 64.84%. In this phase, Rewa recorded lowest voter turnout with 56.70% while tribal dominated Betul registered highest voting percentage of 76.44%.
In phase one, Sidhi had recorded lowest polling but still it stood at 69.35% with Jabalpur standing at 69.45%. Tribal areas witnessed bumper voting with Chhindwara witnessing 82.10% voting. The second phase of elections in state was held peacefully barring couple of incidents of crowd management by police. Malfunctioning of EVMs was also reported in this phase as well. About 260 EVMs were changed during mock polls (before start of the real polling). Overall 111 Ballot Units (BU), 91 Control Units (CU) and 276 VVPATs were changed after reports of malfunction.
Later, during polling EVMs were replaced at 139 polling stations. CEO Rao said that 55 BU, 36 CU, 130 VVPAT were replaced following complaints. On an average about 3% of machines were replaced during the process, he added. Rao also expressed satisfaction on overall management of machines as during the assembly polls EVM malfunctions exceeded more than 10% in Satna assembly. Contd. on P10 The CEO admitted that there were reports of boycott of polls at some booths in Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Damoh and Hoshangabad districts. Re-polling was conducted peacefully at Demha polling booth of Sidhi Lok Sabha constituency.
62.56% voting in Phase-5: EC
The fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections witnessed a 62.56 per cent turnout as 51 constituencies in seven states votes on Monday, the Election Commission said. Over 8.75 crore electors were to decide the fate of 674 candidates, including top leaders like Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in this phase.
FIR against Shah
A verbal duel took place between Harsood BJP MLA and former minister Vijay Shah and Congress leader Basant Pawar. There were heated exchange between the two and crowd started getting unruly when police intervened. FIR has been lodged against Shah. Later counter FIR was also registered against Pawar said CEO.
Photos of voting from inside booth made viral on social media
Some over enthusiastic voters clicked their photos inside the polling booth and made it viral on social media platforms. They took photos of EVMs and VVPAT showing whom they voted for. Such incidents were reported from Satna and Hata in Damoh. CEO Rao said that taking photos from inside the polling booth is against rules and action will be taken against such people.
