73% voter turnout, no report of violence during Shahkot bypoll: CEO S Karuna Raju
The poll percentage touched 73 % mark even as the polling was on in the Shahkot assembly bypoll, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab, S Karuna Raju at a press conference at Chandigarh on Monday. There was no report of any violence during the polling, the official added. Meanwhile, four voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) and one control unit were replaced at polling booths after they malfunctioned during mock polling, the Punjab CEO said. Polling to the Shahkot bypoll commenced at 7 am today and continued till 6 pm. A complaint was received from Shiromani Akali Dal about presence of a woman Congress leader in a polling station. We are investigating the same. Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar held a press conference in Punjab Bhawan on the day of the Shahkot bypoll, which is prohibited on the day of elections. The election commission will investigate the matter. If found guilty actions will be taken, the Officer said. 'Navjot Singh Sidhu had issued a grant which is completely against the election code of conduct. For this, we have written to the Election Commission of India,' the officer said. Investigations in this matter were underway, he added. There was no report of violence during the polling. Total amount cash seized is 17,50,000 and a total of 11 FIR were registered. Total complaint received were 43. Meanwhile total drugs seized across the state during election process 1,100 tablets and 3.50kg puppy husk, 103 web casting on popping station out of 236. Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar held a press conference in Punjab Bhawan on the day of the Shahkot election. A complaint has been received by the Akali Dal on behalf of Sunil Jakhar today, which will be seen and if anything happens to the Shahkot elections then the model code of conduct will be done under the control. On the Akali Dal's allegations about the movement of vehicles bearing registration number of other states, Raju said the concerned teams were following up the matter. But nothing had been substantiated yet, he said. The Election Commission has deployed a total of 1,022 security personnel, including six companies of the Border Security Force, in Shahkot, an official said adding that 1,416 polling staff were deployed for the Shahkot bypoll. The counting of votes will take place on May 31. -PTC News
