Violence mars voter turnout in MP and Srinagar by-elections
The Kashmir Valley responded in anger and political violence was recorded in Madhya Pradesh during by-elections to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat and 10 assembly constituencies in eight states on Sunday.
The voter turnout in Srinagar was sub-10% as the bypoll recorded mass protests and clashes with security forces that led to the death of eight people, who were allegedly throwing stones, and wounded more than a 100 personnel.
In Madhya Pradesh, preceded by controversies related to electronic voting machines, Ater and Bandhavgarh (ST) assembly constituencies went to polls.
Villagers allegedly threw stones at the car of Congress candidate Hemant Katare and police vehicles in Ater. Six vehicles were damaged, sources said.
The incident happened at Sankri booth, where Katare had gone to check reports of booth capturing by BJP candidate Arvind Bhadoria’s followers. Additional police force was rushed to the area to control the situation. In Jharkhand’s Littipara assembly bypoll, about 72% turnout was recorded till evening.
The bypoll is viewed as a prestige issue for the ruling BJP and the opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the state. The BJP is trying to capture a seat that the JMM has held for 40 years.
Polling was peaceful and around 52% votes were cast in six hours in the Kanthi Dakshin assembly bypoll in West Bengal.
VILLAGERS ALLEGEDLY THREW STONES AT THE CAR OF CONGRESS CANDIDATE HEMANT KATARE AND POLICE VEHICLES IN ATER
The ruling Trinamool Congress has nominated former minister of state for health Chandrima Bhattacharya as its candidate. Bhattacharya had lost from Dum Dum (North) in last year’s assembly polls.
In Karnataka, bypolls to Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly constituencies were held.
Fresh polls had to be called at Nanjanagud as V Srinivas Prasad, the Congress MLA, resigned after he was dropped from the ministry. Prasad is now the BJP candidate.
These apart, bypolls were held in Rajasthan’s Dholpur, Bhoranj in Himachal Pradesh and Dhemaji in Assam.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah is contesting the Srinagar seat that fell vacant after the resignation of Peoples Democratic Party leader Tariq Hameed Karra during last year’s unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
The Lok Sabha by-election outcome will be known on April 15, while assembly votes will counted on April 13.