60% turnout in by-polls

An estimated 60 per cent of the electorate cast their votes amidst tight security in by-polls to one Lok Sabha and 16 assembly seats across six states on Thursday, official sources said.

Barring minor skirmishes in Uttar Pradesh, where four assembly constituencies went to by-elections, polling remained peaceful in all the other states.

By-polls were held in five assembly seats in Goa, four in Uttar Pradesh, three in Haryana, two in Kerala and one each in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The highest turnout of 80 per cent was recorded in Kerala followed by 76 per cent in Haryana, 62 per cent in Goa, 50 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 50 per cent in Karnataka and 41 per cent in Uttar Pradesh.

The by-polls in Goa, which is now under President's rule, is significant as the outcome could help restore a popular government.

Congress and its allies have 17 legislators and Bharatiya Janata Party have 14 in the 40-member Goa assembly.

The five vacancies in Goa -- Taleigao, Cambarjua, Benaulim, Margoa and Poinguinim -- resulted following the resignations of BJP legislators, reducing the then Manohar Parrikar government to a minority.

The by-polls will also decide the electoral fate of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa.

Hooda, a Lok Sabha member from Rohtak constituency in Haryana, is trying his luck from Killoi against little-known Azad Singh Attri of Indian National Lok Dal.

In Karnataka's Shimoga constituency, the fate of seven candidates, including Bangarappa who is seeking re-election as a Samajwadi Party nominee, will be sealed.

For Bangarappa, who resigned from BJP and gave up his Lok Sabha membership, it is a battle for political survival as both Congress and BJP have worked hard to outwit him.

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