New Delhi, Apr 9 (TNT): Polling for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, along with bye-elections in four Assembly Constituencies across Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura, was conducted peacefully on Thursday with voters turning out in large numbers.
Assam and Puducherry recorded their highest-ever voter participation in Assembly election history, registering 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent turnout respectively, surpassing previous records of 84.67 per cent in Assam during the 2016 Assembly polls and 86.19 per cent in Puducherry during the 2011 Assembly elections, according to EC officials.
Kerala registered a voter turnout of 78.03 per cent.
In the bye-elections, Bagalkot-24 in Karnataka recorded 68.70 per cent turnout, Davanagere South-107 in Karnataka 68.55 per cent, Koridang-28 in Nagaland 82.21 per cent and Dharmanagar-56 in Tripura 80.04 per cent.
The Election Commission said polling began at 7:00 AM and remained by and large peaceful barring a few minor incidents.
The turnout figures are provisional and do not include service voters and postal ballots.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S.S. Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, monitored polling through live webcasting, which was implemented in 100 per cent of polling stations for the first time in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
A total of 296 Assembly Constituencies in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, with an electorate of over 5.31 crore voters, went to polls, along with the bye-elections in four constituencies across three states.
More than 2.5 lakh polling personnel were deployed for the exercise, while mock polls were completed before commencement of voting in the presence of over 1.8 lakh polling agents appointed against contesting candidates of 1,899.
The Election Commission also introduced several voter-friendly initiatives including colour photographs of candidates on EVM ballot papers, mobile deposit facilities, redesigned voter information slips, and limiting electors to 1,200 per polling station.
Special facilities such as wheelchairs, volunteer assistance and transport arrangements were also provided for persons with disabilities to facilitate easier access to polling booths.
Additionally, 38 delegates from 22 countries witnessed the polling process under the International Election Visitors’ Programme.
TNT KS
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