Madhya Pradesh records highest turnout; over 81 per cent in Mizoram

BHOPAL/AIZAWL: Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest-ever voter turnout of over 70 per cent and Mizoram of over 81 per cent in an assembly poll today.

MP Minister of State for Women and Child Development Ranjana Baghel was booked under Sections 353/34 IPC for allegedly bribing of voters in Dhar district.

Briefing reporters after polling, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind said there was firing in the air at some places in Lahar constituency in Bhind district but said there was no possibility of a re-poll.

"Polling was brisk and peaceful but for some stray incidents of violence - four in Bhind and three in Morena district and one person each was injured in the two districts. As many as 30 persons were arrested for inciting violence in the two districts," Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi said in Delhi.

The previous high turn-out in MP was 69.58 per cent in the 2008 assembly elections while it was 82.35 per cent in Mizoram.

Govind said polling in three Maoist-affected constituencies in Balaghat district was held was held under tight security and choppers were also used, he said, adding an average 70 per cent polling was witnessed here.

The CEO said polling had been boycotted in some polling stations in 10 districts by people who were angry with lack of construction of roads in their areas.

An EVM was broken by a crowd in Chowrai but was replaced and voting resumed after a gap.

In Mizoram, over 81 per cent of polling was reported around 6 PM and was expected to go higher. The fate of 142 candidates, including Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and his 11 ministers, was sealed in election to the 40-member assembly.

Polling ended at 3.30 pm with an estimated turnout of 80 per cent of the 6.9 lakh voters, state Joint Chief Electoral Officer H Lalengmawia said.

As a first, the EC had used Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) of votes in 10 assembly constituencies in Mizoram where voters could see which candidate they have voted for in a printout of their votes.