Adequate security for repolling in 302 booths today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 11. The Election Commission has ordered repoll in 302 polling booths in Assembly constituencies in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

In Assam, repolling will be held in 206 booths spread over 32 Assembly segments in two phases (85 booths tomorrow and 121 booths on Sunday). In West Bengal, 90 polling booths will see a repoll in about 30 Assembly segments, while in Tamil Nadu, repoll will be held in six stations spread over six Assembly constituencies. No repoll has been ordered in Kerala and Pondicherry.

Repolling was ordered on the basis of various inputs provided to the Commission, including reports of the Returning Officers, field assessments and reports of the Central observers.

Talking to reporters here this evening, the Deputy Election Commissioner, Mr. Subas Pani, said adequate deployment of Central paramilitary forces was made for tomorrow's repoll and the Chief Electoral Officers instructed to make ``foolproof arrangements''.

The Commission also gave finishing touches to the poll percentages in the five States where polling was held yesterday. While West Bengal recorded a high of 75 per cent, voter turnout in Tamil Nadu was put at 59.05 per cent. In Assam, the average turnout was about 68 per cent while it was 72.15 per cent in Pondicherry and 72.35 per cent in Kerala.

Door-to-door surveys were made, particularly in 45 Assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu, to eliminate bogus voters. Repoll in Tamil Nadu would be held in 16G polling booths of 2- Harbour Assembly constituency, Chennai, in 119/AIF booth in 48- Vellore segment, 96AIF in 168-Thiruverambur segment, 128G in 58 Villupuram and 3M in 227 Tuticorin segment. The main reasons for the repoll were miscreants resorting to forcible voting, and in two booths malfunctioning of the electronic voting machines.

The first results are expected as early as 9 a.m. on May 13 from Pondicherry. A clear picture is expected by Sunday afternoon.

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