70 per cent voter turnout recorded during re-poll in Arunachal Pradesh

Over seventy per cent voting was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh during re-polling conducted in 34 polling stations across the state on Saturday. The re-polling which started at 6 am ended at 2 pm in a peaceful note without any incidents of violence, election office sources said.

The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in 34 polling stations in the state where polling was suspended on April 9 last following damage of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other poll-related violence.

Re-poll was conducted at 12 booths in remote Kurung Kumey district covering three assembly constituencies of Palin, Tali and Koloriang respectively while 8 polling stations under three constituencies (Bameng, Chayantajo and Seppa West) of East Kameng district was also held.

In Upper Subansiri district, re-polling was held at 9 polling stations under three constituencies namely Daporijo, Raga and Dumporijo, while in West Siang it was conducted in 4 booths under Along West assembly constituency.

Sissen polling station under Panging assembly constituency in East Siang district recorded nil polling as the villagers refrained from casting their votes in protest against the state government failure to provide better connectivity to the village despite assurance from the district administration to resolve their grievances.

In all 140 voters of Sisen polling station refrained from voting on April 9 last for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections to express their ire against the state government s apathy in developing the remote village.

The villagers damaged the lone suspension bridge de-linking the village and prohibiting the polling party to reach the booth. However, the polling party managed to reach the booth but turn-out of voters was zero.

Sitting Industry Minister Tapang Taloh who represents the seat is facing a triangular contest. The state election authority deployed adequate CRPF personnel in all the polling booths to ensure violence-free polling.

Moreover, senior police officers were also deployed at Palin, Raga, Koloriang and Seppa which, recorded violence on April 9 last, sources added. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has expressed shock over the death of Mathew Dabi, a polling official who went missing while on polling duty on April 9 last and his body was recovered on April 17 from a gorge near Siine village of East Siang district.

The Commission has directed the state election authorities to pay the ex-gratia payment to the family members of the deceased as per the provision soon, sources added.