Haryana recorded a turnout of voters of 65.5 per cent for 90 constituencies in the Assembly elections while Maharashtra recorded nearly 60.25 per cent voters turn out for 288 Assembly seats on Monday.
According to the Election Commission (EC), the figure of voter turnout is provisional, and may rise slightly. The highest voter turnout has been recorded in Karvir at 79.19 per cent while lowest turnout registered in Kasbapeth at 36.08 per cent in Maharashtra. The highest voter turnout has been recorded in Fatehabad at 72 per cent while the lowest in Pataudi at 36 per cent in Haryana. Over 4,400 candidates —1169 in Haryana and 3,237 in Maharashtra have contested this election. Haryana had recorded 76.54 per cent voter turnout while 64 per cent voter in Maharashtra had exercised their franchise in 2014.
“Polling was by and large peaceful but affected due to rainfall in several parts of Maharashtra. Reports of electronic voting machines glitches were also received from some parts of Maharashtra. Barring a stray incident in Nuh district, polling was violence-free in Haryana,” the EC said.
According to the EC, seizure of cash, drugs and freebies aimed at inducing voters in Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana have seen a massive jump as compared to the last elections. Addressing a press conference here after the conclusion of the polls in the two States, Director General (Expenditure) in the EC, Dilip Sharma said in Maharashtra the overall seizure stood at Rs 156.94 crore. It included Rs 60.69 crore in cash, over 23 crore worth of liquor and drugs worth Rs 19.5 crore.
In the 2014 Assembly polls, the total seizures were to the tune of Rs 30 crore. “It is a five time jump,” he said.
Sharma said in Haryana, the jump is three times the previous figures.
In the 2014 Assembly polls, the total seizure was Rs 8.58 crore and this time, it was Rs 24.17 crore. Referring to the replacement of control units, ballot units and paper trail machines in the two States on Monday, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain told reporters that in Maharashtra, 525 ballot units, 481 control units and 2,800 paper trail machines were replaced.