Assembly bypolls in 4 states: Over 50% polling till 5 pm

A voter turnout of over 50 per cent was recorded in the bypolls to 15 Assembly seats spread across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttarakhand on Wednesday amid stray incidents of violence and complaints of irregularities against police officials and misuse of government machinery.

Poll officials said nearly 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise by 5 pm in Uttar Pradesh.

The Election Commission’s update at 5 pm showed the voter turnout at: Ghaziabad (33.30 per cent), Katehari (56.69 per cent), Khair (46.43 per cent), Kundarki (57.32 per cent), Karhal (53.92 per cent), Majhawan (50.41 per cent), Meerapur (57.02 per cent), Phulpur (43.43 per cent), Sisamau (49.03 per cent).

In neighbouring Uttarakhand, a voter turnout of 56.78 per cent was recorded in the Kedarnath assembly bypoll till 5 pm.

In Punjab, a voter turnout of 59.67 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the bypolls to four assembly segments The Gidderbaha seat recorded 78.10 per cent polling, Dera Baba Nanak 59.80 per cent, Barnala 52.70 per cent and Chabbewal 48.01 per cent.

In Kerala, polling in the Palakkad assembly by-election saw a turnout of 54.64 per cent.