NEW DELHI/PATNA/LUCKNOW/HYDERABAD, May 7:
A massive turnout of the 184 million electorate was witnessed in the eighth phase polling, in 64 seats spread over 7 states, to elect the 16th Lok Sabha.
Waters were tested in Andhra Pradesh’s 25 seats, Uttar Pradesh (15), Bihar (seven), West Bengal (six), Uttarakhand (five), Himachal (four) and Jammu & Kashmir (two). Elections were also held simultaneously for 175 Assembly seats in Seemandhra.
The death of a youth was reported from Bihar’s Sitamarhi when police aborted booth capturing by miscreants. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, his cousin and BJP General Secretary Varun Gandhi, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi were among the prominent aspirants in this roun.
May 16 is set for the verdict.
People in Andhra Pradesh voted in large numbers in the second and final phase of election and over 71 per cent polling was registered.
Guntur District recorded 74 pc turnout, Prakasam district (73.5), Anantapur (73), Chittoor (72.1), 72 per cent each in Srikakulam and East Godavari while Visakhapatnam 67 per cent. Two EVMs and a police jeep parked near a booth were damaged in the Maoist attack.
There were a total of 333 Lok Sabha candidates and 2,241 Assembly candidates in 13 districts in Seemandhra. Around 56 per cent of the 2.62 crore voters exercised their franchise for the 15 seats in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh.
Polling percentage in two assembly by-elections for Rampur Khas and Vishwanathganj seats in Pratapgarh was also around 50 per cent.
In the fray were Union Steel Minister and Congress candidate Beni Prasad Verma(Gonda), UP Congress president Nirmal Khatri (Faizabad), and cricketer-turned politician and Congress candidate Mohammad Kaif (Phulpur).
Polling in Baramullah and Ladakh seats of Jammu and Kashmir was marred by sporadic incidents of violence.
More than 50 per cent polling was recorded in Ladakh parliamentary constituency.
In Baramulla, spread over Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts in North Kashmir, 39.5 per cent polling was recorded.
The frontier district of Kupwara recorded 64 per cent polling followed by Bandipora 33 and Baramulla 25 pc.
Security forces burst tear gas shells and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse anti-poll demonstrators at different places in Baramulla LS constituency, where a jawan was reportedly injured in a blast.
Reports said people opposing elections pelted stones at a polling booth at Shahgund in Bandipora. Protests and stone pelting incidents were also reported at Saderkote and Bandipora, Doabgah Shumryal Lolab in Kupwara.
About 65 per cent polling was registered for the four parliamentary constituencies-Shimla (Reserve), Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi- in Himachal Pradesh.
A total of 38 candidates were in the fray. Perturbed over lack of development and laxity in the basic amenities, about 6 villages in Lahaul Spiti district boycotted polling under the Mandi Parlimentary segment, where wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Pratibha, is in the fray.
About 56 per cent electorate exercised their franchise in seven of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar for the fifth phase election.
Muzaffarpur recorded the highest polling of 51 per cent, while the lowest was reported from Hajipur at 43.2 per cent
Polling percentage in Sheohar was 50 pc followed by Ujiyarpur at 48 pc.
In Sitamarhi 47 pc polling was recorded, Saran and Maharajganj Lok Sabha seats remained at 45 each. Chiraiya Assembly constituency was 52 while 43 per cent polling was reported in Maharajganj assembly constituency.
One person was killed in Sitamarhi Lok Sabha constituency when police opened fire at booth no 224 under Ramnagar police station after miscreants tried to capture it.
A total of 8.8 million voters cast their votes in six West Bengal constituencies which went to polls in the fourth and penultimate phase today.
An overall 80.51 pc voters turned up to exercise their franchise.
While Jhargram recorded 87.88 per cent polling, 78.75 per cent turnout was registered at Purulia, 81.45 per cent in Medinipur, 75.47 pc in Asansol, 80.55 per cent in Bankura and 85.21 per cent in Bishnupur.
Barring some stray incidents, the election was by and large peaceful, reports said.
Polling for five Lok Sabha seats across Uttarakhand continued at a brisk pace, crossing 20 per cent by the afternoon.
Seventy four contestants were in the fray for the five seats of Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Almora (R) and Tehri with the battle lines drawn between ruling Congress and rival BJP. (AGENCIES)
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