An estimated 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise in two Lok Sabha constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday despite the on going 48-hour state-wide bandh called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) to enforce poll boycott in protest against inclusion of 1497 refugees in the state electoral roll.
Though there was no major incident, re-polling has been ordered at a polling station near Palin in Kurung Kumey district and another at Chayang Tajo in East Kameng district.
According to election office sources, bandh supporters damaged an EVM at Palin and polling was disrupted at Chayang Tajo following a quarrel between two groups of people there.
The state recorded over 70 per cent polling in October 1999 when election to both assembly and Lok Sabha were held simultaneously. According to official sources, Tawang and Bomdila have witnessed high turnout.
In the state capital, polling was dull in the morning but picked up as the day wore on.
While shops and markets were closed due to the bandh for the second day on Wednesday, vehicular traffic was off the road.
With paramilitary personnel patrolling the streets, voters walked down to the polling stations in the absence of vehicles to cast their votes.
{{/usCountry}}With paramilitary personnel patrolling the streets, voters walked down to the polling stations in the absence of vehicles to cast their votes.
{{/usCountry}}According to reports available here, almost all the 1497 refugees cast their votes in polling stations, exclusively set up for them at Miao, Bordumsa-dyium in Changlang district and at Chakma village at Chowkham in Lohit district.