Bypolls peaceful,Howrah sees highest turnout at 66%

Maharajganj: The bypoll here witnessed 47 per cent turnout despite rigorous campaigning by the JD(U) and RJD. Large turnout of women was the heartening feature of the poll,which is a battle of prestige for both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad ahead of the 2014 general election. The fight is between RJD’s Prabhunath Singh and JD(U)’s P K Shahi though there are six candidates in the fray. Naxal-infested Taraiya,where voting is generally conducted till 3 pm,saw polling till the scheduled closure time.

Howrah: Over 66 per cent voter turnout was recorded here. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Trinamool Congress MP Ambika Banerjee. Being held in the aftermath of the Saradha chit fund scam,the election assumes significance as it came ahead of the panchayat elections. The seat witnessed triangular contest among the TMC,Congress and CPM in a field of 13 candidates. The TMC fielded former India football captain Prasun Banerjee; the Congress gave ticket to lawyer Sanatan Mukherjee; and the CPM to Sridip Bhattacherjee,a former party district secretary. The BJP did not contest — apparently to keep the door ajar for TMC,a former NDA ally.

Porbandar & Banaskantha: While Porbandar recorded 30 per cent polling,the turnout in Banaskantha was 38 per cent. Banaskantha seat fell vacant after the death of Congress MP Mukesh Gadhvi. In Porbandar,election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Vitthal Radadiya,who hit the headlines for pulling a gun at a toll booth attendant. Radadiya had quit Congress in February and crossed over to the BJP,which fielded him for the Lok Sabha bypoll.

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Gujarat: Limbadi recorded 62 per cent voting,Morva Hadaf 64 per cent,Dhoraji 34 per cent and Jetpur 45 per cent.

Uttar Pradesh: Polling was held to fill Handia seat following the death of sitting MLA Mahesh Narayan Singh. The SP fielded his son. The turnout was 50 per cent.

Maharashtra: In Yavatmal,only 37.5 per cent of voters turned out at polling booths. Regarding the reasons for poor turnout,the District Collector said there were 237 weddings in the district on Sunday.