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Over
60 per cent polling reported in Pondicherry
Pondicherry,
May 10: Over 60 per cent of the total 6.58 lakh voters exercised
their franchise in the Assembly poll in Pondicherry, which was marred
by a stray incident when police chased away a group of persons canvassing
near the polling booth, official sources said.
Yanam polled
the maximum of 65 per cent polling, while Pondicherry and Karaikal
recorded 55 per cent each and Mahe, 52 per cent. Bussy constituency
recorded the lowest figure of around 41 per cent, the sources said.
Hundred and
ninety three candidates are contesting the elections to the 30-member
territorial Assembly.
The polls will
decide the fate of former Chief Ministers R.V. Janakiraman (DMK),
V. Vaithialingam and S. Ramasamy (both Congress) and D. Ramachandran
(AIADMK).
At Sedarpet
village in Osudu constituency, police chased away a group of persons
who were canvassing within the 100 metre range of a polling booth.
The Chief electoral
officer B.Vijayan also denied reports that an elector had died in
a stampede which followed police efforts to disperse those canvassing
near the booth.
There are three
fronts contesting the polls, one led by the DMK, the other led by
AIADMK-PMK and a third, by the Congress.
The DMK is contesting
13 seats, its partner the Puducherri Makkal Congress is contesting
nine, BJP five, Dalit Panthers of India two and JD(U) one.
While the AIADMK
is contesting 20 seats, its ally, the PMK, is contesting 10 seats.
In the Congress Front, the Congress is contesting 21 seats, its
ally TMC is contesting seven and CPI two seats. (PTI)
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