Elections LIVE | 32% turnout in Maharashtra, 48% in Jharkhand till 1 pm

An average voter turnout of 20 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of voting in the bypolls to 15 assembly seats spread across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttarakhand on Wednesday amid an incident of stone pelting in a village in UP’s Meerapur and allegations of police personnel deterring voters from casting their ballot.

Voting for bypolls in nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh picked up pace after a sluggish start, with over 20 per cent voters turning up to exercise their franchise by 11 am.

An EC update showed 12.56 per cent turnout in Ghaziabad, Katehari (24.28 per cent), Khair (19.18 per cent), Kundarki (28.54 per cent), Karhal (20.71 per cent), Majhawan (20.41 per cent), Meerapur (26.18 per cent), Phulpur (17.68 per cent), Sisamau (15.91 per cent).

An incident of stone pelting was reported in Kakroli village during voting for the Meerapur assembly bypoll following a confrontation between two groups.

Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Singh told reporters that police promptly reached the spot and dispersed the crowd using “mild force”.

“The situation was brought under control, and voting continues peacefully,” Singh added. It was not immediately clear what caused the confrontation.

NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar has appealed to people in Maharashtra to exercise their franchise saying said the assembly elections will decide the state’s future.

Talking to reporters in Baramati town of Pune district after casting his vote, Pawar said all the electors should exercise their right to vote.

“This election is extremely important. It will decide the future of Maharashtra. I appeal to all citizens to come out and vote,” he said.

“It is not good that the voter percentage in Maharashtra is less than smaller states in the North East,” the former Union minister said.