Chandigarh, October 13
One person was killed and several were injured in isolated incidents of violence as Haryana recorded more than 69 per cent polling today.
The polling agent of an Independent was killed in the Guhla constituency when supporters of the Congress candidate allegedly attacked him inside a polling booth. Clashes between supporters of the Congress and those of the INLD were reported from Ferozepur Jhirka, leaving several injured. Samalkha in Panipat district saw a clash between supporters of the Congress and those of the HJC, leaving 17 persons injured. In Mewat, five persons were injured in a clash between Congress and INLD activists.
Thanking the electorate for supporting his party, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala said the Congress, sensing defeat, had resorted to cheap tactics to intimidate voters.
Alleging large-scale booth-capturing, his son, Ajay Singh Chautala, demanded repolling in such booths. After the Guhla incident, a worried CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda appealed to the voters to exercise franchise peacefully.
According to tentative figures released by the election office, the state recorded about 69 per cent polling from 7 am to 5 pm. The percentage is expected to go up after the final tally. The polling continued in certain booths even after 5 pm. According to the EC instructions, all those who enter a polling booth before 5 pm are allowed to cast their vote.
Among those whose fate is locked inside the voting machines are CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former CM Om Prakash Chautala, Finance Minister Birender Singh, Haryana BJP president Krishan Pal Gurjar, Haryana Congress chief Phool Chand Sharma, former minister Venod Sharma, Tourism Minister Kiran Choudhry, Education Minister Mange Ram Gupta, Local Bodies Minister AC Chaudhary, Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav, Power Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala and INLD secretary-general Ajay Singh Chautala.
The votes will be counted on October
22.
