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Peaceful polling with 53% turnout
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Hello, have a mobile?
Sorry, can’t go in to vote
Cops smile at 5pm as no case of violence
Delhi Poll Sidelights
A first-time voter shows her inked finger in New Delhi on Thursday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal
Kids create magic with waste
Mason kills wife over illicit relations
Woman dies; father blames husband, in-laws
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Peaceful polling with 53% turnout
New Delhi, May 7 A total of 50-53 per cent electorates exercised their franchise in the fourth phase of elections. The percentage of polling has increased by six per cent in this election, as last year only 47 per cent of the voters had exercised their franchise, said the chief electoral officer of Delhi, Satbir Silas Bedi. This is the result of the drive launched by the government to encourage voters to come out and vote, added Bedi. Maximum polling of 53 percent was reported from West Delhi, where the fight is mainly between Congress candidate Mahabal Mishra and BJP’s senior leader Jagdish Mukhi. The lowest polling was reported from North-West where only 45 per cent of the voters turned up. In the constituency, the Congress has fielded Krishna Tirath while the BJP has fielded Meera Kanwaria. Lack of enthusiasm is being seen as the reason behind the low voters turn out here. Giving the break-up of voters turnout of other constituencies, the CEO said it was 50 per cent in Chandni Chowk, 52 per cent in North East, 52.5 in East, 50 in New Delhi and 48 in South Delhi. This figure is higher in comparison to last Lok Sabha election in 2004 when in New Delhi the polling percentage was only 44.51 per cent, 47 in South Delhi, 46.13 in erstwhile Outer Delhi, 45.68 in East Delhi, 53.5 in Chandni Chowk, 57.55 in erstwhile Sadar and 49.32 in Karol Bagh. The fight was mainly between the Congress and BJP. Polling agents of the BSP were not seen in any constituencies. In Chandni Chowk the competition was between Congress candidate Kapil Sibal and BJP’s Vijendra Gupta, in North East it was between Congress’s sitting MP Sandeep Dikshit and BJPs Chetan Chauhan, in South Delhi it was between Congress’s Ramesh Kumar and BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and in New Delhi between Congress’s Ajay Maken and BJP’s Vijay Goel. When asked why the polling percentage was low in comparison to assembly elections, the CEO said, “in comparison to other states polling percentage in Delhi is better.” She added that the control room of the election office received 2000 calls of complaints from middle and low class areas. The complaints were of discrepancies in the electoral list.
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Biggies get inked early morning
New Delhi, May 7 Flanked by Dikshit and party candidate from New Delhi constituency Ajay Maken, Congress president Sonia Gandhi voted at Nirman Bhawan early in the morning. Without answering any questions from the journalists, Gandhi left the polling station soon after voting, but Dikshit said voting was a responsibility of the citizens. Around the same time, Priyanka Gandhi cast her vote at Vidyabhawan booth in Lodhi Estate. Deserting her regular cotton saree, she was wearing black jeans and T-shirt. Priyanka said she hoped the Congress won all seven seats in the Capital. Her brother and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi cast his vote at a polling booth at Aurangzeb Lane in New Delhi constituency. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat cast his vote for New Delhi constituency at Sanchar Bhawan. “I cast my vote according to party’s decision,” he said after coming out of the polling booth. Several other MPs were registered as voters at Sanchar Bhawan. President Pratibha Patil voted in the presidential estate for the New Delhi constituency. Vice-president Hamid Ansari also cast his vote at Nirman Bhawan in the morning and posed for the media before getting back to his car. BJP’s Varun Gandhi also cast his vote at Nirman Bhawan in the afternoon. BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra cast his vote at St Columbus School for the New Delhi constituency. Party’s contender for the New Delhi constituency Vijay Goel voted at polling booth number 160 in Roop Nagar.
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Hello, have a mobile?
Sorry, can’t go in to vote
New Delhi, May 7 “The policemen standing at the main gate did not allow me to enter the booth with my phone. I did not know I was not supposed to bring mobile to the polling station,” said a voter, who had to return without casting his vote. The voters complained that arrangements should have been made for people to keep their phones outside while casting votes. “The guards are asking me to keep my mobile phone in car. Do this mean people who do not have cars can not vote in this country?” questioned Ranbir, a voter at the booth. Another disappointed voter said there were appeals to vote all over in the media, but none of the channels informed that the voters were not allowed to take their phones inside. “None of the TV channels mentioned that cell phones were not allowed inside the polling booths. Now that I have got my cell phone here, I can not just throw it away,” said Kamini. Voters also complained that the guards were rude. “Unlike the rest of the country, the police here do not seem to understand the relevance of each vote. They are not ready to keep our mobile phones till we return and neither are they letting us inside on the promise that we would switch off our phones and not use them till we come out,” said a first-time voter. Supporters of political parties, who were sitting on helping booths 200 meters away from the polling station, said the voters were depositing their mobile phones with them. “Many voters kept their mobile phones here. Voters, who came in groups, kept each other’s phones and waited outside in turns. But for someone who had come alone and did not know us, it was difficult,” said Congress supporters sitting on the help desk. |
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Cops smile at 5pm as no case of violence
New Delhi, May 7 The Delhi police’s one and a half month hard work paid off as no untoward was incident was reported from any corner of the city. “We are proud of our men who ensured free and fair elections. Not a single incident of violence was reported from any part of the city ,” said ACP Rajan Bhagat. He added no paramilitary force like – the CISF or the CRPF was deployed in the capital this time to assist the Delhi police. “Unlike the previous Lok Sabha or assembly elections, we did not have the support of paramilitary forces, as it was not logistically possible to move them from other states to Delhi. The peaceful elections are the result of the hard work of our men,” said Bhagat. A total of 41,834 policemen were deployed in 11,354 polling booths across 2,565 premises, pickets, including patrolling. While, 11,213 home guards from three states also assisted the Delhi police in carrying out smooth polls. As three incidents of violence were reported during poll campaigns and 232 licensed arms were impounded, policemen at polling booths were instructed to book the miscreants. Except some arguments related to ‘missing names’ and ‘proper voter ID card’ between voters and polling officials at some booths of East and West Delhi constituencies, polling was by and large peaceful in the city. Head constable Harpal Singh, posted at ASN Day Boarding School polling booth in Mayur Vihar Phase-I, said it was one of the quietest polling days of his life. I been on poll duty several times but today was an easy day. Voters here are educated and gentle. I did not hear any argument throughout the day,” he said. The end of polling also brought smiles on faces of policemen who had been engaged in security drills. “Thankfully, the elections are over. And, now we can concentrate on the cases which require immediate attention,” said an inspector in the New Ashok Nagar area. He added he would spend the evening with a cold bath and drinks with friends. And, why not? After a long month, its celebrations time for most
policemen. |
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Netaji’s soldier, cook dies…without voting
Gurgaon, May 7 He could not fulfill his desire as he took his last breath just before he had to go to the polling both to cast his vote in the morning. After his health deteriorated recently, he wished to vote before dying. “Pawar wanted to vote for the last time, but destiny had something else in store for him,” said Surinder Chauhan, one of the party workers of the village. He said the whole village was excited when Pawar’s name came in the limelight because of his dream to vote for the last time before dying. Pawar was the oldest living person of Khedki Majra Village, which otherwise has a population of 6,000, out of which only 600 are registered as voters. Pawar had worked as a cook with Netaji Subash Chander Bose’s Azad Hind Fauz. After the news of his death spread, a pall of gloom descended over the village and the poll work stopped for at least two hours. Though Pawar himself could not vote, his five family members gave him a tribute by voting. He also became an inspiration for youngsters, who exercised their franchise for the first time this year. Pawar died around 7:15 in the morning and was cremated in the afternoon. The party worker told The Tribune that Pawar was not able to eat anything for the last few days and was alive only on water. Pawar was not happy with today’s politicians, but still wanted to vote. He was impressed by Bose and remembered his words “fight hard and get the country independent” till his last breath.
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Delhi Poll Sidelights
New Delhi, May 7 "I have come all the way from abroad especially to cast my vote," he said, showing off his inked index finger at the Aurangzeb Lane polling station in the New Delhi constituency. The Rolls Royce occupied most of the narrow road leading to the booth. Modi and his wife had come to the polling station in the shining chauffeur-driven car. First-time voters
get advice
Rini Sen, a first-time voter, looked nervous at a polling station in West Delhi. She was waiting for her turn when she asked her mother: "Can I press EVM twice?" Her mother replied: "No." A woman standing in front of her gave her some advice: "Just vote for the first person on the EVM list." Sen's mother immediately said: "No, the third person on the EVM." The first was BJP candidate on the EVM was Jagdish Mukhi and the third was Congress’ Mahabal Mishra. Other first-timers shared their experience with one another through SMSes. Twenty-year-old Gautam Sharma did his regular jog and reached the poll booth dot on time - 7 a.m. After he voted, he SMSed his friend: "Mahabal Mishra, uper se teesra." His friend Sahid Ahmed replied: "Ajay Maken (Congress candidate from New Delhi), always on top!" Evidently, they were not paying too much attention to the ballot being kept secret! Booth shifted,
voters miffed
Residents of Prithviraj Road in New Delhi constituency were alarmed today when they could not find a polling booth. Booth no. 119 was shifted to Aurangzeb Lane polling station. Uninformed voters went from pillar to post trying to locate their names on lists at various polling stations. After two hours of going around, voters were directed to Aurangzeb Lane polling station that housed three booths, including the one with their names. "This is ridiculous. There was no notice. It's like the government did not want us to vote!" said Sapra Sharma, a voter from Prithviraj Road. A polling agent said: "The booth from Prithviraj Road was shifted. There has been a lot of confusion because of this but some voters found their way." Senior citizen
leads way
Old is gold and so it was in Dwarka, a sprawling middle class neighbourhood in West Delhi, where senior citizens led the way to the polling booth. Kishan Dutt, 77, got up early and went to his friend's house so the two of them could go together to the polling booth. As his friend was taking time to get ready, he left on his own. "I was the first to vote at my polling booth," said Dutt. He flashed his index finger, the way he had seen celebrities and politicians do on TV, and asked youngsters to vote and not miss their "fundamental right". A vote in hope
of a road
Fifty-five-year-old domestic help Vimla Devi voted in the hope of a road. The path from her Shahbad Mehmudpur village, on the outskirts of Delhi, to the residential area in Dwarka where she works was closed due to construction work of the Metro train. Earlier she could simply walk down but now she has to take a bus, which means an additional financial burden. "I voted for the elephant," she said as the candidate "has promised us a road". She didn't know the name, but was referring to the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Deepak Bhardwaj.
— IANS |
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Noida, Gzb turnout up
Noida/ Ghaziabad, May 7 In Noida, an average of 47.66 per cent votes has been recorded, with 49.16 per cent from rural areas and 43.8 per cent from the urban areas. In 2004, an average of 26 to 30 per cent votes was cast. While in Ghaziabad, an average of 46.5 per cent votes was cast today. In 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the average was 44.27 per cent. Assembly constituency-wise the average vote cast today: Ghaziabad 43.27 per cent, Sahibabad 46 per cent, Muradnagar 50 per cent, Loni 46 per cent and Dholana 47 per cent.
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Kids create magic with waste
New Delhi, May 7 This fair of broom, mirror and papier mâché artifacts created by children from age group between 3 to 14 years has put on display utility items made from materials that we habitually discard in our houses like — CD covers, bottles and bottle covers, toilet rolls, broken toys, boxes and cartons. According to Renuka Taneja, alumnus of College of Arts, who runs a studio to teach youngsters to give vent to their imaginations, “It is a place where the sun need not be yellow and the leaves may not be green. The kids perceive the world with their senses and that world can be so different from the one we see,” says Renuka, adding that the exhibition would be on till May 10 at N-178, Panchshila Park. Renowned artist, Manisha Ghera Baswani, who visits the exhibition every year, finds it highly inspiring. “It is a very special, inspiring and highly creative show,” she said.
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Mason kills wife over illicit relations
Greater Noida, May 7 The accused has been arrested and the murder weapon has been seized. The victim’s body has been sent for autopsy. The police said the accused Vijay Vashnoi, originally from Chhatisgarh, is a mason. He used to live in Gurgaon with his wife Savita. It was there that she developed illicit relations with Sandeep, their neighbour. Vijay had asked her to end her relationship with Sandeep, but she did not pay any heed to his words. As a result, Vijay quit his job in Gurgaon and shifted to Greater Noida where he got a job in GB Nagar University. But his wife was in touch with Sandeep, which he could not tolerate. On Wednesday, he followed his wife to a nearby field and attacked her with a mattock on her head and neck. He then fled. Vijay confessed to the crime. He told the police that he killed Savita as she had illicit relationship with Sandeep.
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Woman dies; father blames husband, in-laws
Greater Noida, May 7 According to the police, Mamraj’s daughter Indira had married Mahavir of Kherli Bhar village in Rabupura on June 23, 2005. Mamraj alleged that soon after the marriage Mahavir and his parents had started harassing Indira for more dowry. Mahavir’s parents had allegedly demanded a motorcycle, Rs 35,000 and a T set. Mamraj has alleged that Indira’s in-laws and husband poisoned her daughter to get rid of her. On getting the news of Indira’s death, her parents, reportedly, rushed to her in-laws’ place and lodged a police complaint. Meanwhile, Indira’s body has been sent for autopsy. The police is trying to nab the nine accused, including the victim’s husband.
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New Delhi, May 7
New Delhi, May 7
New Delhi, May 7
