Polling has ended in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly Elections, which have been incident-free.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is seeking to oust the BJP which has been in power in for the last 15 years, while in Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is seeking a third consecutive term as the BJP looks to uproot the Congress in its last bastion in the Northeast.
The counting is scheduled for December 11.
Here are the updates:
Record 75% voting in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday registered a record 75% voter turnout for the State Assembly polls that was marred by complaints of faulty EVMs with the BJP looking for a fourth straight term in a tough battle with a resurgent Congress which is eyeing a comeback after 15 years.
The voting figures in the one-phase polls for 230 seats, which was peaceful, was 74.61% and it is likely to go up after the final tally, poll officials said. The previous highest was in the 2013 Assembly polls when the turnout was 72.69%.
Mizoram records 79% polling, Bru refugees clock 56%
About 79% of Mizoram’s 7,70,395 voters cast their votes for the 40 Assembly seats in the State on Wednesday. The final figure, officials said, could be closer to the 80.82% mark in 2013 after people standing in queues at many booths after the voting ended at 4 p.m. get to cast their votes.
56% Bru refugees vote in Kanhmun
Around 56% voting has been recorded in Kanhmun at 4 p.m. with people still in queue, reports our correspondent Rahul Karmakar . As many as 6,284 of the 11,987 Bru voters have voted as per latest data. Comparatively, 11% Brus had voted in 2013 when Mizoram poll officials conducted polling in Tripura camps.
65.5% polling in M.P. polls
Altogether 65.5% voters have exercised their franchise in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, 7% less than the figure in the previous polls. In the 2013 Assembly election, 72.69% turnout was recorded, an election official says.
The polling has been marred by complaints of faulty EVMs and VVVPAT machines. Poll officials say 1,145 EVMs and 1,545 VVPATs have been replaced after complaints of technical snags.
Polling has been held between 8 am and 5 pm in 227 seats, while in three Assembly segments — Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar — in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, the voting time has been between 7 am to 3 pm, State Chief Electoral Officer V.L. Kantha Rao says.
About 2.5% polling machines have been replaced, Rao says, adding this percentage was around 2% in other states where elections were held recently.
73% polling in Mizoram
Around 73% turnout has been recorded in the Mizoram Assembly polls, but the figure is expected to rise as there were long queues of voters outside polling booths to exercise their franchise, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra says.
Mr. Kundra tells the media that the highest turnout of 81% was reported at Serchhip, where Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is one of the contestants. At Kanhmun village in Mamit district bordering Tripura where Bru refugees lodged in Tripura camps cast their votes, 52% of the 1,18,987 electorate exercised their franchise, he says. “This is satisfactory considering the circumstances,” he says. The polling in Kanhmun ended at 3 pm, while for the rest of the State the time was 4 pm.
“I congratulate the Mizo people for free, fair and peaceful elections. My special gratitude to the Mizo civil society, particularly Young Mizo Association. They helped the election authority in every possible manner... ,” says Mr. Kundra, who replaced S.B. Shahshank less than a fortnight before the polls. Mr. Shahshank was removed by the Election Commission following large-scale protests by civil society organisations after he complained against Mizoram’s Principal Secretary (Home) Lalninmawia Chuaungo for playing an active role in the revision of electoral roll of Bru refugees lodged in the Tripura camps since 1997.
50% voter turnout till 3 pm, over 1,000 faulty EVMs replaced
Around 50% voting has been recorded till 3 pm in Madhya Pradesh even as there were complaints of faulty Electronic Voting Machines at some places in the State. As many as 1,146 EVMs and 1,545 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines have been replaced after complaints of technical snags, M.P. Chief Electoral Officer V.L. Kantha Rao says.
“So far, 50% turnout was recorded in the state till 3 pm,” he tells the media in Bhopal. Three employees died due to health reasons while performing their poll duties since morning in Dhar, Indore and Guna districts, he says.
Mr. Rao says that at Gadhpura in Bhind district, a person was injured in violence but it was not poll-related.
Following complaints of malfunctioning of EVMs, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia demanded that the Election Commission make up for the time wasted in replacing faulty EVMs by extending the polling time in the booths concerned.
“I want that the EC should compensate for the time lost in replacing the EVMs. It should extend voting time at places where EVMs failed to work,” he told reporters after landing in Gwalior to cast his vote. “I have already spoken to Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat and MP Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao on this issue over phone.”
State Congress chief Kamal Nath also expressed concern over complaints of technical snags in EVMs. “Several reports are coming from across the state that EVMs are not working. This has been affecting the polling. Long queues are being witnessed in the city. EC should immediately take decision. The EVMs should be changed,” he said in a tweet.
Mizoram records 67% voting till 3 pm
Volunteers of Mizoram People's Front comprising church bodies and NGOs such as Young Mizo Association have created help desks near polling booths to assist voters.
Mizoram has recorded 67 per cent voting till 3 pm, the State Chief Electoral Officer has said. Serchip recorded the maximum of 74 per cent, while Champhai recorded 72 per cent. Capital Aizawl recorded the lowest polling — 62 per cent.
Three poll officials found drunk, removed from duty
Three polling officials, including two presiding officers, in Mizoram’s Lunglei district were removed from their duties after they were allegedly found in an inebriated state, attempting to assault other officials.
Those who faced action include James RT Khuma, an Associate Professor at Government J Buana College, who was the presiding officer at a polling station in Lunglei South assembly seat.
“He was found to be intoxicated in the DC office premises, was behaving in an extremely unruly manner and attempted to physically assault a senior officer in the presence of others,” Lunglei Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Returning Officer Ankita Chakravarty said in an order.
She ordered the principal of Government J Buana College to immediately initiate disciplinary proceedings against Khuma considering it to be “serious misconduct“.
Vote a weapon, use carefully: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi urged people in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram to exercise their franchise in large numbers, saying “time for change” has come and electors should vote for prosperity and progress.
In two separate tweets for voters of Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh, he said, “Vote is the biggest strength of democracy. Do cast your vote today, because it’s time for change.”
He told voters of Mizoram that their vote is not just a constitutional right, “it is a blessing and a weapon. Use it wisely today. Vote for peace, prosperity and progress.”
Bru refugees welcomed with 'pork curry'
Locals wait with packets of pork curry to offer Bru refugees, who are arriving in Mizoram to exercise their franchise.
Bru voters from six relief camps in North Tripura district arrived at Kanhmun village, along Mizoram-Tripura border, where 15 temporary polling stations have been erected.
The voters had to walk around 500 metres from the inter-State border to reach the polling stations, where members of local civil societies welcomed them with pork curry.
Many EVMs malfunctioning, claims Congress
The Congress claimed that many EVMs malfunctioned during the ongoing Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections and demanded that polling be extended.
“There have been several complaints that EVMs at many places malfunctioned. We have have written to the Election Commission and demanded that voting time in these polling booths should be extended to compensate for the delay,” Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
Responding to the demand, CEC O.P. Rawat said in Delhi that there are provisions for the extension of time and local officers (in Madhya Pradesh) can take the call on the matter.
Rahul Gandhi's open letter to voters
On the eve of polling, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had, in an open letter to the people of Madhya Pradesh, made a fervent appeal to them to support his party to help provide good governance in the State.
“Our promise of trust ensures that farmers’ loans would be waived, electricity bills would be halved, women will get justice, industry would flourish, youth will get permanent jobs and tribals and the poor will look ahead with hope,” he said in the letter.
Kamal Nath concerned about technical snags in EVMs
Congress state president Kamal Nath cast his vote in Chhindwara district while the party’s campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia exercised his franchise in Gwalior.
Mr. Nath expressed concern over complaints of technical snags in EVMs.
“Several reports are coming from across the state that EVMs are not working. This has been affecting the polling. Long queues are being witnessed in the city. EC should immediately take decision. The EVMs should be changed,” he said in a tweet.
27% electorate cast vote till 1 pm
Around 27 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Wednesday during elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly while two polling officials died on duty, officials said.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantha Rao said polling was going on peacefully in all the Assembly constituencies and long queues were seen in the Naxal-affected seats and other places.
Two polling officials dead
Two polling officials died due to health issues while performing their duties in Indore and Guna districts.
The families of these employees would be given an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each, Election Commission has said.
Polling percentage stands at 29%
As of 11.00 a.m., the polling percentage stands at 29%. Long queues of enthusiastic voters were seen outside many polling stations early in the day.
Former Chief Minister and opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) chief Zoramthanga was among the first ones to exercise franchise at 7 am. Zoramthanga cast his vote at Ramhlun polling booth in Aizawl North-II constituency.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan shows his inked finger after exercising his franchise at a polling booth in Jait, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan voted with his family in Jait village under Bhudni constituency. He is contesting against Congress’ Arun Yadav.
State Congress chief Kamal Nath also casted his vote, after a temple visit along with his family, at a polling booth in Chhindwara.
Faulty EVMs, VVPAT machines cause glitches
Several faulty EVMs and VVPAT machines have been replaced within the first hour in Madhya Pradesh.
In Ujjain, two faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 11 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were replaced by the Election Commission officials.
In Bhuranpur constituency, five VVPATs and two faulty EVMs were replaced by 9 a.m.
Turn up in large numbers and vote: Modi
Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Wednesday exhorted people of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram to turn out in large numbers to cast their vote in the assembly elections.
Modi took to Twitter to reach out to people in the two states, asking them to exercise their franchise in the “festival of democracy“.
The PM tweeted in English and Hindi to send out the message to the voters. Polling is on in the two states.
“I request my sisters and brothers of Mizoram, particularly the dynamic youth of the state, to turnout in large numbers and vote,” he said in one of the tweets.
15% polling in Mizoram
As of 9.00 a.m., voting percentage in 40 Assembly seats in Mizoram stood at 15%, says Chief Election Officer Ashish Kundra. The local social organisations are providing water and benches to sit on for the voters waiting in line.
Bru voters assemble at Kahnmun's Young Mizo Association (YMA) playground where 15 special booths for Bru refugees of 9 Assembly seats in Mizoram have been set up.
Polling begins in Madhya Pradesh
Polling began Wednesday morning to elect a 230-member assembly in Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling BJP and opposition Congress are fighting for supremacy.
Polling is being held between 8 am and 5 pm on 227 seats, while in three assembly segments - Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar - in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, voting time is between 7 am to 3 pm.
As many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray for the 230 seats, but the main contest is between the Congress and BJP - the Big Two of MP politics.
The state has 5.04 crore eligible voters.
An elderly Bru refugee reacts after casting her vote at Kahnmun playground in Mizoram on Wednesday. Kanhmun is an inter-state border village between Mizoram and Tripura.
Polling begins amid tight security in Mizoram
An elderly Bru refugee reacts after casting her vote at Kahnmun playground in Mizoram on Wednesday. Kanhmun is an inter-state border village between Mizoram and Tripura.
Amid tight security, polling began at 7 a.m. for the 40-member Mizoram assembly election, officials said, reports IANS.
According to senior police officials, around 11,100 security personnel comprising central paramilitary and state security forces have been deployed to foil any attempt to create trouble during the polling.
Voting will continue uninterrupted till 4 pm.
In all 768,181 voters, including 393,685 women, would decide the electoral fate of the 209 candidates, of whom 15 are women. In 2013, only six women had contested and none were successful.
Mizoram’s Joint Chief Electoral Officer Zorammuana said that no untoward incident has been reported so far from anywhere in the State.
4,363 service voters issued electronic ballots
All preparations have been made and now we are ready to conduct free and fair elections, informed state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra.
CEO Kundra said, “A total of 209 candidates are in fray. There are 4,363 service voters in the state who have been issued electronic ballots for the first time. 3,915 specially-abled voters are there in the state. One polling station in each assembly constituency has been declared for women, as per the rules. 13,451 postal ballots have been issued so far.”
To the booths after a closely fought contest
As campaigning for elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly ended on Monday evening, the ruling BJP and the Congress sounded upbeat.
The BJP is hoping for a straight fourth term in a State that has traditionally been a stronghold of the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates. But the Congress is banking on an anti-incumbency mood due to 15 years of uninterrupted BJP rule.
Can Congress hold on to its last N-E bastion?
Christian-majority State of Mizoram is voting to decide whether the Congress will hold on to its last bastion in the North-East or make way for a change of government.
But for the first time since it attained statehood in 1986, Mizoram is unsure whether the Congress’s traditional rival Mizo National Front (MNF) or another political entity would be that ‘change.’ Much of this uncertainty is attributed to an aggressive Bharatiya Janata Party queering the poll pitch in a State where it had been content with a token presence in all past elections since 1993.
Also read: Bru refugees may find it tough to vote
(With inputs from Agencies)
