Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011060340100.htm

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Peaceful polling in Thirumangalam

Madurai Bureau

District Collector puts turnout of voters at 88.89 per cent

— Photo: K. Ganesan

ENTHUSIASTIC LOT: Voters awaiting their turn at a polling booth at Chekkanoorani in Madurai on Friday.

MADURAI: Polling in the by-election to Thirumangalam Assembly constituency passed off without any incident on Friday in the presence of Central paramilitary forces.

The by-election was peaceful, said Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, who was present in the constituency since morning.

Right from 7 a.m., when polling began, a large number of women in rural pockets of the constituency lined up at the polling stations. Many had the EPIC with them. Women enrolled with self-help groups carried bank pass books.

Polling percentage was high (more than 75 per cent) and very high (93 per cent) in urban localities, election officials said. In Villoor, the polling ended only at 7.45 p.m. owing to overcrowding. Out of 1,161 voters, 1,025 cast their vote. After 5 p.m., tokens were given to 213 voters.

Apart from aged persons, even women were ferried in autorickshaws and SUVs to polling booths in places such as Kalligudi, Villoor and Kappalur.

The presence of paramilitary forces at polling stations not only kept cadres of political parties away but also local police personnel. Voters stood in orderly, serpentine queues without much trouble.

Though many women were seen squatting, unable to stand for long, they were generous in giving priority to persons with disabilities for casting the vote. Many polling stations were unusually silent.

Paramilitary personnel limited the number of voters inside polling booths to two, and five on the campus.

Speaking to reporters after polling came to an end, Mr. Gupta said preliminary figures from all the 190 polling booths suggested that the final percentage might be 70 to 75 per cent. At 4 p.m., it was around 60 per cent. Late in the night, District Collector P.Seetharaman put the figure at 88.89 per cent.

Though there were reports of outsiders staying in the constituency, it did not affect the polling process. Whenever information was passed on to the police, they swiftly acted to ensure that the outsiders were vacated, said Mr. Gupta. Commending paramilitary personnel, police and Revenue officials, he said but for a few complaints from the electorate that they were not permitted to vote as they were not carrying the permitted documents as proof of identity, the overall process went off smoothly. Polling was free and fair but for a few minor incidents.

Inspector General of Police (south zone) Sanjeev Kumar told The Hindu that easy mobility of officers ensured smooth polling. All the EVMs would reach the counting centre (Madurai Medical College). They would be guarded by CRPF personnel. Counting of votes would be taken up on Monday.