72% voting in Arunachal

The bulk of an electorate of 7.33 lakh in Arunachal Pradesh turned out to clock 72 per cent on the voting meter on Tuesday. Elections were held in 57 of 60 Assembly seats after the Congress won three unopposed.

The bulk of an electorate of 7.33 lakh in Arunachal Pradesh turned out to clock 72 per cent on the voting meter on Tuesday. Elections were held in 57 of 60 Assembly seats after the Congress won three unopposed.

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"A minimum of 72 per cent votes were cast," said Yeshi Tsering, the state's chief electoral officer, from Itanagar. "We can arrive at the exact figure only after reports from remote centres come in."

Officials monitoring the electoral process said the day's voting was by and large peaceful save a dozen polling booths where clashes between supporters of rival parties forced countermanding. Polling was also suspended temporarily in two booths - under Kanobari constituency - set up in an area disputed by Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Of the 2063 polling stations, eight had up to nine voters. Two of them - Upper Mudoi Deep under Bordumsa-Diyun constituency and Mramboo under Anini constituency - had three voters each.

Tuesday's voting - 2 per cent more than in 2004 - sealed the fate of 154 candidates, 57 of the Congress, 36 of NCP, 26 of Trinamool Congress and 18 of BJP. Regional parties and Independents make up the rest.