The election commission officials who have trained their staff on use of VVPAT machines have rubbished the rumours that the secrecy of voting would be disturbed with this new facility.
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This would mean that service voters, including personnel from armed forces, can now download the blank post ballot sent to them electronically, mark their preference and post the filled-up ballot back to their respective returning officers.
Goa, on the other hand, outdid its 2012 record with an 83 per cent voter turnout.
Voting will also be held for bypoll to Amritsar Lok Sabha seat tomorrow. While the Badals are fighting the elections on the development poll plank – building roads, airports and even renovation of the holy city of Amritsar – they are also facing serious attacks over alleged embezzlement, drug menace and unemployment.
Out of the total electorate of 1,98,79,069 in the state, there are 93,75,546 women and 415 transgenders. The Election Commission has set up 22,615 polling stations across the state. A repoll has been ordered in this polling station at Aquem having 788 votes. “We all had a group photo at home before starting for the polling booth”, Harsimrat said.
Punjab could well end up with a hung verdict and in that event there could well be a Congress-AAP coalition since the BJP is a virtual untouchable for both parties. “In Goa it could reach 85 per cent”, Sandeep Saxena, Deputy Election Commissioner said. The BJP-Akali Dal combine is expected to lose seats across the state, while the AAP is projected to sweep the Malwa region in particular with 40 of its seats coming from the region.
Over 79 per cent electors had cast their votes in the 2012 assembly polls. The ruling party, which had projected Parrikar as the chief ministerial face in 2012, had then contested on 28 seats while Congress fought on 34 seats.
He later shared a traditional meal with commoners and party leaders at the “Sanjha Chulha” (common kitchen) put up by the villagers. In Punjab, it will be used only in five out of 117 seats. In both the by-elections BJP candidates won.
Kumar said understanding voting pattern was a complex issue and could vary from state to state in a big country like India, as elections also have caste and community dimensions. Congress will form the government this time.
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Sukhpal Singh Kahiara of AAP.
