Over 70 percent of voters exercised their franchise in elections to 28 municipal committees and 18 municipal councils of Haryana on Sunday. Polls were held amidst tight security arrangements and passed off peacefully.
The polling, which began at 7 am, continued till 6 pm; and the results will be declared on June 22.
Haryana State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh said that there are a total 18,39,455 voters in 18 municipal councils and 28 municipalities. “Till 8 pm, 12,95,508 voters cast their vote, which is 70.4 percent of the total voter turnout. At some polling stations, voters were queuing up to cast their votes even at night,” he said.
Singh said that in some places, there was a defect in the EVM, but it was immediately resolved. “Wherever the polling is over, the polling staff has deposited the EVMs. The EVMs will be stored in the strong room. Polling agents, police personnel and other employees, engaged in the polling, performed their duties well,” he said.
The voters were witnessed standing in queues outside the polling booths with the beginning of the polling at 7 am. Since morning, there was enthusiasm among voters and many aged voters were seen being assisted by their relatives or election officials to enable them to cast their votes. Those voters standing in the queue were allowed to exercise their franchise till 7 pm.
“I don’t miss a chance to cast a vote. This is our democratic right,” said a 75 year-old man, Mahender Choudhry who cast his vote in Rewari.
He said: “The government and elected civic bodies should improve the sanitation condition of the town besides drinking water, roads, drainage system, streets, lights, healthcare and education.”
Adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, the provision of face masks and sanitizers was also made at each polling station, the election officials added.
As per the available report, Rewari recorded the highest voter turnout of 84.6 percent, while the lowest polling of 61.7 percent was recorded in Jhajjar.
In Ambala, for the elections of Naraingarh Municipal Council, 68.6 percent voter turnout was recorded at 30 polling booths as out of total 18,217 voters, 12,494 exercised their voting right.
In Kurukshetra, there were elections for four Municipal Councils — Ismailabad, Shahabad, Pehowa, and Ladwa. Overall, Kurukshetra district recorded 71.5 percent turnout at 110 polling booths as of 93,049 voters, 66,522 did vote. Ismailabad recorded 76.6 per cent voter turnout at 13 polling booths as out of 10,460 voters, 8,009 did vote.
In Yamunanagar, for Sadhaura MC, 78.2 per cent turnout was recorded as of 10,513 voters, 8,218 did vote.
“Tight security arrangements were put in place for the polling. Polling remained 100 percent peaceful. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere. There were no reports of any law and order issue or any incident pertaining to violation of Model Code of Conduct,” said election official.
While the ruling BJP-JJP alliance and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are fighting the polls on the party symbols, many Congressmen have entered the fray as independents.
