70 per cent polling in Madhya Pradesh, the highest ever

Barring a few stray incidents, casting of votes during Monday's assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh passed off peacefully with the polling percentage likely to cross 70, which would be an all-time high.

Briefing reporters after the end of polling, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind said that as of now, there seems to be no possibility of a re-poll in any polling station of any constituency.

Govind said that the poll percentage during the 2008 assembly elections was around 65 per cent, adding that it would surely cross 70 per cent this time.

He said that polling had been boycotted at some stations in more than 10 districts by people who were angry with lack of construction of roads in their areas.

There were reports of firing in the air in the Lahar constituency in the Bhind district and pointed out that no was injured. Polls in the three Maoist-affected constituencies in Balaghat district were held from 7 am to 3 pm and added that the average polling percentage in them was around 70.

The state chief electoral officer said that the elections were held under strict security and added that choppers were used for the purpose in the Balaghat and Singrauli districts.

Govind said that the maximum number of incidents took place in the Lahar constituency and these included firing by unidentified people, exchange of fire between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as firing on a Bahujan Samaj Party supporter by a Congress supporter.

In Chowrai in the same constituency, an electronic voting machine was broken by the crowd, but it was replaced and voting resumed after a gap.

In the Ater constituency in the Bhind district, one person was injured in stone pelting. There was firing at three or four places in the Sumawali constituency in Morena district, though no casualties were reported.

Govind said that incidents of minor altercations were reported from Bhopal, Mhow and Tikamgarh and added that a case was registered against Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Women and Child Development Ranjana Baghel.

A neck-to-neck contest has been witnessed between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with the former trying hard to secure a hat-trick of wins in the assembly elections and the latter fighting to return to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is contesting from Budhni and Vidisha constituencies, while the leader of the Congress opposition Ajay Singh is in the race from Churhat constituency in Vidisha district.