Khed polling patterns no different

An estimated 34 per cent voting in Junnar, 25 per cent in Ambegaon, 42 per cent in Khed Alandi, 45 per cent in Maval, 34 per cent in Mulshi and 30 per cent in Bhor were recorded until 3 pm.

Just over three and half per cent voting was recorded in the first two hours of polling at Chakan, one of the important market places in Khed tehsil. The turnout of women voters was negligible as compared to the turn out of men. An aged farmer at Shiroli village near Chakan DattuSavant claimed that the women voters turned out late as they had to complete the household chores. This was the feature in every elections, he added. Of the 1755 total voters at Shiroli only 12 women voters had cast their vote in the first two hours.

A major section of farm workers did not cast their votes in the Khed region, a senior farmer said. The apprehension about loosing their individual daily wages was uppermost in their minds. They stayed away from voting mainly because they could not find easy mode of transport to cast their vote and return to their work places, he added. About four per cent voting was witnessed in the Khed assembly segment in the first two hours.

Polling agents of prominent candidates were present at almost every polling centre located even in distantly located areas. The Shiv Sena and the Congress had set up assistance centres outside every polling centres.

Although as a security measure vehicles were not allowed to take inside the school premises where polling washeld, the police allowed aged persons to be taken to the polling centres on two-wheelers in Manchar. The state revenue authorities supervising the poll process at Ghodegaon in Ambegaon tehsil faced communication problems due to faulty telephone lines. Elaborate arrangements for polling had been made since early morning.