Turnout likely to cross last election figure

AURANGABAD: Polling in Aurangabad

Lok Sabha

constituency was recorded at 61.87% around 6pm on Tuesday, almost close to the 61.9% recorded in the 2014

general

election.


“With polling still under way at some booths even after 6pm, the percentage is expected to surpass last year’s,” said district collector Uday Choudhary, who is the returning officer for Aurangabad.

Chaudhary said that the primary inputs are suggesting a surge of 1.5% polling in Aurangabad East constituency while in Aurangabad Central and Aurangabad West, the numbers together are adding to about one per cent. “We are set to register a polling per cent of about 63,” he said.

Deputy collector (elections) Nilesh Shringi said the process of calculating the exact polling percentage is under way. “The election department has heaved a sigh of relief after the latest polling percentage breached the previous general election figures.”

Meanwhile, two polling staffers posted at different locations had to be replaced as they took ill and had to be rushed to hospitals. Sources informed that their condition is out of danger and that they are recuperating.

There are 18.57 lakh voters in Aurangabad constituency for this general election, including over three lakh first-time electors.

Aurangabad has six

assembly

constituencies. As per the figures obtained around 6pm, Aurangabad central had recorded 63%, Aurangabad west 62%, Aurangabad east 59%, Kannad 63%, Gangapur 63% and Vaijapur 61%.

The district administration had deployed 300 autorickshaws, which helped 4,080 voters reach the booths to exercise their franchise.

While 5,500 government employees on election duty were issued election duty certificates for casting votes at the polling stations they were deployed at.

Chudhary informed that due to reports of slow polling, over 90 booths were identified and additional polling officers rushed to each of these polling stations to assist in the polling process.

Election officials said that the exact voting percentage and all the relevant figures would be available late at night. Strong room will be sealed in the presence of election observer Brijmohan Kumar around 11 am, the officials added.