New Delhi: The third phase cof Lok Sabha election on Thursday in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir get high voter turnout. Jammu and Kashmir get a special mention from the Election Commission for an “outstanding” 66 per cent voting in Jammu, the one constituency where polling was held.
The ruling Congress has much at stake in Thursday’s elections. It holds 45 of the 91 constituencies – across 11 states and three union territories – which voted.
The BJP fancies its chances at substantially increasing its seats in its quest to touch the 272 majority mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Delhi had recorded a 64 % voter turnout which is up by 12 % from 2009 and the Election Commission said that the figure could go up. Several keen battles are being fought for Delhi’s seven seats.
EC claimed that the 10 seats of Uttar Pradesh saw 65 % polling, up 14 % from last time. The riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar in western UP also voted today.
EC also said that Chandigarh, which has seen a high-decibel contest ever since the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party para-dropped actors Kirron Kher and Gul Panag respectively to take on former minister and sitting MP Pawan Kumar Bansal of the Congress, is likely to see a 74 % turnout. In 2009, 65 % had voted here.
Meanwhile in Bihar, Voting was comparatively lower with just 51.92 % turnout recorded till 5 pm and in Madhya Pradesh which recorded just 46.55 % till 4:30 pm.
About 54 % voters had turned up by 5 pm on the 10 seats of Maharashtra where polling was held. The Election Commission said voting here was likely to reach 58 %.
Bureau Report
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