Election LIVE | First phase records 62% voter turnout; violence, EVM glitches affect voting
Among the voters were first-timers, many newly-wed couples who came in their traditional attires, physically-challenged people and some elderly persons carried on stretchers and wheelchairs
An aggregate 62.37 per cent voter turnout was recorded in phase one of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, the Election Commission (EC) said.
While the figures were issued after the conclusion of polls, the commission said people who were in the queue when voting ended at 6 pm were allowed to exercise their franchise.
"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 pm in many constituencies. Final figures will be known on Saturday after the scrutiny of form 17A," the EC said.
Polling took place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories in the first of the seven-phase elections.The commission described the turnout as "high", noting that voting remained "largely peaceful".
In the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 69.43 per cent.
Minor EVM glitches were reported at some booths in Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Assam.
Polling began at 7 am and wrapped up at 6 PM. Election officials said the turnout in West Bengal was 66.34 per cent till 3 pm and Meghalaya 62 per cent while six districts of eastern Nagaland wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors following an indefinite shutdown call by an apex body of tribal organisations to press for its demand for a separate state.
Violence in Bengal, Manipur, Chhattisgarh
In West Bengal, polling was marred by violence in the Cooch Behar seat. TMC and BJP workers clashed with each other and lodged 80 and 39 complaints respectively related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assault on poll agents, sources from both parties said.
Polling was conducted in the Cooch Behar, Alipurdar and Jalpaigudi seats of the state.
The BJP alleged that TMC workers injured its booth president by throwing stones at him at the Chandramari area of Cooch Behar. The party also alleged that its workers were attacked in Natabari. The TMC has accused Union minister Nisith Pramanik of inciting violence in the state by keeping weapons in his office.
In strife-torn Manipur, around 45.68 per cent polling was recorded.
An altercation broke out between locals and unidentified persons in Thongju assembly constituency under the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
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Over 15% votes polled till 9 am in 3 Bengal LS seats
Over 15 per cent of 56.26 lakh voters of three Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal exercised their franchise till 9 am on Friday (April 19), an Election Commission official said.
In the first phase of elections, voting is underway in Cooch Behar, Alipurduars, and Jalpaiguri seats. All three seats are reserved, with Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri for SCs and Alipurduars for STs.
"Till 9 am, voter turnout in Coochbehar is 15.26 per cent while that in Alipurduars and Jalpaiguri is 15.91 per cent and 14.13 per cent respectively," the official said in Kolkata.
A total of 37 candidates, including Union minister and BJP leader Nisith Pramanik (Cooch Behar), are in the fray in the three constituencies.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
