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55-70 per cent polling in assembly elections

An estimated 55 to 70 per cent of the 130 million electorate exercised their franchise on Thursday in assembly polls in four states and a Union Territory, which passed off peacefully except for stray incidents of violence which claimed five lives in Assam and one in West Bengal.

In what has been dubbed as a "mini-general" election, polling was held in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry.

A Central Reserve Police Force jawan was killed and three others, including a police official, injured by suspected United People's Democratic Solidarity, which along with United Liberation Fron of asom had threatened to disrupt the polls, at Deohari in Karbi Anglog, official sources in Guwahati said.

In another incident, two persons trying to rig the polls were overpowered and lynched at Hasrabari in Kokrajahar district in Assam. In neighbouring Magurabari, one person was injured in a clash between supporters of rival candidates.

In West Bengal, a Communist Party of India-Marxist supporter was killed in a bomb attack in Kumarpara under Khardah constituency in North 24 Parganas. A Doordarshan cameraman and a girl were injured in a bomb blast as two groups clashed in Bhatpora.

An attempt to disrupt polling by the outlawed People's War Group in 13 booths under Binpur assembly constituency in West Bengal was foiled by police, Inspector General of Police (CID) Chavan Mukherjee said, adding polling was also disrupted in several booths in Jamboni, Gidhini, Balidiha and Balisol areas under Binpur constituency when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha activists smashed EVMs in protest against alleged misprinting of the party's poll symbol on the EVMs.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the Election Commision ordered repoll in four polling stations in Bongaigaon constituency in Assam following reports of snatching of ballots.

The use of EVMs for the first time in all constituencies in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Pondicherry and in four constituencies in and around Guwahati, has been successful, Deputy Election Commissioner Subhas Pani said in Delhi.

He said 1,40,965 EVMs were used in the current elections and there was no major problem.

In Kerala, there were reports of altercations between the LDF and UDF workers near a few booths in Thiruvanathapuram, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargod.

Sporadic incidents of road blockades were reported in Madurai. In Madras, two persons, including a police constable, were stabbed during an altercation.

Among the candidates whose fortunes are being decided are West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mohanta, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and CWC member A K Antony.

Counting of votes will be taken up on Sunday morning and most of the results are expected to be available by evening.

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