More than 85 per cent of the electorate cast their votes to elect a 30-member Legislative Assembly as polling ended peacefully in Puducherry barring minor skirmishes and complaints from a few constituencies.
As large number of people waited to vote in several Assembly segments even after the closing time of 5 p.m., election authorities distributed tokens and allowed them to exercise their franchise up to 6 p.m.
Collector-cum-District Electoral Officer G. Ragesh Chandra said that the polling per cent was expected to touch 85.26 per cent reported in the last Assembly elections. There were no major incidents of violence or complaints of malpractice.
The Election Department website gave region-wise break up as follows: Puducherry 85.46 per cent, Karaikal 82.76, Mahe 77.1 and Yanam 95.58 per cent.
While constituencies such as Thirubhuvanai, Ossudu, Mangalam, Embalam, Bahour and Yanam reported more than 90 per cent polling, Assembly segments such as Mannadipet, Villianur, Ozukarai, Kadirgamam, Indira Nagar, Lawspet, Kalapet, Ouppalam, Orleanpeth, Nellithope, Mudliarpet, Ariankuppam, Manavely, Nettapakkam, Nedungadu, Thirunallar and Karaikal South witnessed more than 80 per cent voting. There was palpable enthusiasm among voters in both urban and rural areas as people flocked polling booths from early morning and waited patiently to cast their vote braving the heat. In the beginning, the voting was very slow, but, as time passed, it picked momentum.
“I have not moved an inch in the last one hour. I do not know what is happening inside,” said Kariyan, a farm worker. Some were turned away by booth officers as they failed to produce documents prescribed by the Election Commission.
There were reports of minor skirmishes between supporters of the Congress and N R Congress in Kalapet constituency. Timely intervention by the police prevented the situation from getting out of control.
At a polling booth in Mangalam constituency, a booth-level officer was replaced following accusations by party agents that she was seeking votes for a particular candidate.
Prominent among those cast their vote included Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh along with his wife at Pondicherry Municipality office; Union Minister of State for Prime Minister's office V. Narayanasamy with his family members at PWD Public Health Office on Bussy Street; Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam at Government School in Maducarai; Rajya Sabha Member P. Kannan at Susilabai High School, Vysial Street; and former Chief Minister N Rangasamy at Government Middle School, Thilaspet.
