An estimated 10 to 15 per cent largely-peaceful voting was recorded until 9 a.m. on Friday in the heartland state of Madhya Pradesh where single-phase exercise of franchise is underway amid tight security across all 230 Assembly constituencies vis–vis formation of the states 16th Vidhan Sabha.
One person was injured during a clash between two groups in Morena districts Dimani constituency where Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is in the fray. The situation was brought under control by law-enforcement personnel.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his family voted at their native village Jait in Sehore district. Home Minister Narottam Mishra cast his vote in Datia district, erstwhile CM Kamal Nath in Chhindwara and BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya in Indore.
The time limits are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of certain polling centres in Leftwing extremism-affected Balaghat, Dindori and Mandla districts where voting will cease at 3 p.m.
Isolated instances of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines caused brief delays.
It was officially learnt that an electorate exceeding 5.60 crore including more than 2.71 crore women and 1,292 of the third gender is eligible to participate in the democratic exercise at 64,626 polling centres including 17,032 critical ones to decide the fortunes of 2,533 nominees including 252 females and one member of the third gender.
A total of 1,316 vulnerable areas were identified. Monitoring through webcasting and closed-circuit television has been arranged at more than 42,000 centres.
The ruling BJP and the principal-opposition Congress have fielded their representatives for all seats whereas other figures include BSP 181; SP 71 and 1,166 independents.
Among the prominent contestants are Chief Minister Chouhan (Budhni), Congress state head Kamal Nath (Chhindwara), Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food-Processing Industries Prahalad Singh Patel (Narsinghpur), Union MoS for Steel and Rural Development Faggansingh Kulaste (Niwas) and Mr Vijayvargiya (Indore-1).
Counting is slated for December 3.
(With UNI inputs)
