Maharashtra : 55.97 % voting in first phase of Lok Sabha elections

Share this News:

Mumbai, April 11: In the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, 55.97 percent voting was recorded in 7 constituencies in the state till 5:30 pm today. After 6 pm, due to long queues of voters at some polling stations voting was continue for a long time , Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dilip Shinde said here today. He said that in all seven constituencies, polling has been peaceful, except for the incidents at certain places.

He was speaking in a press conference held in the Mantralaya today. Co-Chief Election Officer Anil Valvi, Deputy Chief Election Officer Shirish Mohod were present on the occasion.

In the first phase, the polling was held in seven Lok Sabha constituencies till 5:30 pm as follows : Wardha 55.36 percent, Ramtek ( S.C. ) 51.72 percent, Nagpur 53.13 percent, Bhandara-Gondia 60.50 percent, Gadchiroli-Chimur (S.T.) 61.33 percent, Chandrapur 55.97 percent and Yavatmal-Washim 53.78 percent.

Due to the hardcore leftist ideology, the polling teams could not reach at the polling booths, and voting could not be held in Vateli, Gardevada, Gardevada (Puskothi), Gardevada (Wangeturi) in Aheri taluka of Gadchiroli district. Voting on these polling stations will be held later.

A small bomb was thrown at Fularsagondi in Gadchiroli district. Two jawans were injured in this incident. These jawans were immediately taken by Helicopter to Gadchiroli and admitted for treatment. Apart from this, there was a firing case near the other base camp. Apart from such exceptional incidence, the election remained peaceful in all the seven constituencies, Mr. Shinde said on this occasion.

In the first phase, there were 14,919 polling stations in the state. Very few of them, ie less than 1.5 percent of the polling booths, have experienced minor technical breakdown in the voting machines. Voting was started immediately by changing voting machines at these polling booths. Therefore, there was no interruption in the process of voting, Mr. Shinde said.

So far goods worth Rs. 104 crore 19 lakhs have been seized in various operations in the state. He said that in this, cash worth Rs. 35 crores approximately, liquor worth Rs. 19 crores 12 lakhs, drugs worth Rs. 5 crores 46 lacs approximately and jewelery worth Rs. 44.61 crores were also seized.

The necessary infrastructure was provided to the voters in all the constituencies. Wheelchairs, ramps, etc. were provided on the demand of Divyang voters. Apart from this, live webcasting of 1 thousand 261 polling stations was done, Shri Shinde said.