New Delhi:
Polling in three Maoist-dominated seats --- Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar --- of the 230 Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh began at 7 am and will end at 3 pm on Wednesday. Polling in the rest of the constituencies will start at 8 am and end at 5 pm. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is seeking a fourth term in power. On the other hand, the Congress wants to make a comeback. As many as 5.04 crore voters will decide the fate of 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents.
In the 2013 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 165 seats and the Congress had won 58. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party had won four and independent candidates had won three seats, respectively. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VL Kantha Rao on Tuesday had said 3,00,782 government employees, including 45,904 women, have been deployed on poll duty across the state, where 65,341 polling stations have been set up. Rao said 78,870 EVMs will be used during the poll. The CEO said 17,000 of these polling booths have been declared ‘sensitive’ and additional vigil will be maintained there.
Here are the LIVE updates:
Madhya Pradesh recorded a 74.6 per cent voter turnout till 6 pm today in the crucial elections for 230 Assembly seats. This is higher than the 72.7 per cent voting recorded in 2013 Assembly elections.
Altogether 65.5 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections on Wednesday, just over seven per cent less than the figure in the previous polls.
A 106-year-old woman after casting her vote in Kawrthah. #MizoramElections (Pic courtesy: Office of the Chief Electoral Officer) pic.twitter.com/OSd47D4Adb
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Kamal Nath, Congress on showing his election symbol after casting his vote in Chhindwara: I had already cast my vote. When people asked me when those from media asked me whom I have voted for I showed this (palm). What else could have I done?Show a lotus? #MadhyaPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/A4nxfFrCOB
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
CEC O P Rawat on instances of EVMs malfunctioning in Madhya Pradesh: There were few complaints on malfunction of some EVMs & VVPAT machines, they’ve been replaced. If it's observed that voters left due to malfunction, we can consider re-polling at that particular polling station. pic.twitter.com/TyHNaTVlcJ
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
CEC O P Rawat on Jyotiraditya Scindia's request to EC to extend polling time due to EVM malfunction: There are provisions for the extension of time, the local officers can take the call as they see fit. The matter does not need to be handled by the commission. pic.twitter.com/OznJsAKzcJ
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
There have been many complaints of EVMs malfunctioning, have written to Election Commission. Have requested that voting time in these polling booths should be extended to compensate for the delay: Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress #MadhyaPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/EfJiIg7lW0
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Election Commission announces Rs 10 lakh each compensation for the kin of the EC officials who passed away while on election duty.
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on his way on a horse chariot to cast his vote for the #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 in Indore. pic.twitter.com/iFHLZanCxb
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
I assure you that on 11th December Congress will form the government with the blessings of the people: Jyotiraditya Scindia after casting his vote at a polling booth in Gwalior #MadhyaPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/AeswowBZTU
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
A 101 year old woman after casting her vote in Agar Malwa #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/DXlhuqyD5e
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
The EVM at polling booth number 178 at Dabra in Gwalior district is now operational.
Police seizes campaign material from BJP's polling agents from a polling booth in Saint Mary's, Bhopal as it was within 200 meters of a polling booth. One person taken to custody. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/EvqxqyW4bv
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Two faulty EVMs in Ujjain have been replaced, 11 VVPAT machines in Alirajpur, 5 VVPAT and 2 EVMs in Burhanpur also replaced.
We’re 100% certain that BJP will form government with an absolute majority. We have set a target of 200 seats and our lakhs of volunteers are working to make it a reality: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan after casting his vote in Budhni #MadhyaPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/RNQMYXBFQs
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
First time voters after casting their votes at a polling booth in Bhopal #MadhyaPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/9Tn9Mi7ySs
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Madhya Pradesh Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia casts her vote at a polling station in Shivpuri. She is up against Congress' Siddharth Lada. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/FrpyOXfZ7m
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Congress leader Kamal Nath after casting his vote in Chhindwara #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/z5WozQVNA8
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
EVM is not working at polling booth number 178 at Dabra in Gwalior district, reports ANI.
Congress leader Kamal Nath offers prayers at a Hanuman temple in Chhindwara #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/tjdOwNrwtJ
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Voting underway for 230 assembly seats in #MadhyaPradeshElections, visuals from a polling booth in Indore pic.twitter.com/jxvUY9xVCl
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh, they are simple and innocent people who have been robbed for a long time by BJP: Kamal Nath, Congress #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/t7J1mxan9u
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan prays on the banks of Narmada river, in Budhni. Voting in the state is underway. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Hh9hjNds8Y
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Visuals from a polling station in Bhopal. Polling for 227 constituencies in the state will begin at 8 am, while voting for 3 constituencies has already begun. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/RnjsoctPbV
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
