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Journalism of Courage
While the cliffhanger Maharashtra Assembly polls registered an estimated 55 per cent voter turnout, in 16 other states, by-elections to three Lok Sabha and 39 Assembly constituencies showed a turnout that varied between 45 and 65 per cent.
Giving the turnout estimates, Election Commission spokesperson A.N. Jha said that though stray incidents of miscreants trying to damage EVMs in Kolhapur, Pune, Ahmednagar and Osamanabad were reported, ‘‘polling was completed within the stipulated time’’.
In the Mainpuri Lok Sabha elections — where a relative of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting — there were reports of violence and attempts of booth-capturing in collusion with the presiding officer.
‘‘The entire polling party (of four members) will be suspended for colluding with one of the candidates. It was detected when the number of voters cast on the EVM was found to be more than those found on the register,’’ the EC spokesperson said.
