Chandigarh, October 15
Haryana created electoral history by clocking the highest-ever voting at 75.9%, with high-profile Assembly segments taking the lead this time around.

Ellenabad recorded the highest voting percentage with 89 per cent (86 per cent in 2009) from where senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala is seeking re-election. Close on its heels was Uchana Kalan where another scion of the Devi Lal clan, Dushyant Chautala, is locked in a tough battle against Prem Lata, wife of senior BJP leader Birender Singh. This segment recorded a voting percentage of 84.8 per cent as against 83.32 per cent in 2009. Kaithal, from where Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala is seeking a re-election, recorded 82.2 per cent voting, up from 77.41 per cent in 2009.

CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s segment, Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, polled 74.7 per cent votes as against 69.54 per cent in 2009. The Congress minister Aftab Ahmed’s segment Nuh also recorded a high voting percentage of 80.88 per cent (74.98 per cent in 2009).

Faridabad, October 15
This district with the highest number of voters recorded the lowest polling with 61.9 per cent of the voters turning out to exercise their franchise. In all, nearly 12.28 lakh voters are in the district. In the 2009 Assembly elections, the district witnessed 72 per cent turnout. “It is surprising that the polling percentage in this industrial hub of the state slipped sharply in spite of the level of awareness going up,” said Ram Kumar, a political analyst.

Gurgaon: The Gurgaon district, comprising four Assembly segments, registered a turnout of around 68 per cent, an increase of five percentage points from the last Assembly elections in 2009. The Gurgaon Assembly segment recorded the lowest turnout with 63.8 per cent, while Sohna registered the highest with 76.4 per cent. Badshahpur that has the highest number of votes in the district registered 67.2 per cent polling, while Pataudi 68 per cent.

The voting percentage stood at 77.1 in the Mewat district, comprising three Assembly segments — Mewat (80.8 per cent), Ferozepur Jhirka (75 per cent) and Punhana (76.1 per cent).

— Sumedha Sharma 

Jind, October 15
The district registered around 79.7 per cent voter turnout today. Of 8.57 lakh voters, 6.82 lakh exercised their franchise.

The Uchana Kalan Assembly, where INLD’s Dushyant Chautala and BJP’s Prem Lata are pitted against each other, witnessed the highest polling in the district at 83.9 per cent. Safidon registered the second highest voting at 81.6 per cent, followed by Narwana (81.3 per cent), Jualana (76.8 per cent) and Jind (73.7 per cent).

By and large, the voting was peaceful. There were reports of minor clashes in Uchana Kalan seat, besides in Aleva, Jhil, Chuhadpur, Kakraunda, Kharb Bhura and Dhilluwala villages.

“The district remained peaceful. There were minor clashes, but the police have not received any complaint in this regard,” SP Anil Dhawan said.

Kurukshetra, October 15
The fate of 49 candidates from the Kurukshetra district was sealed in EVMs as 80 per cent polling was reported across 691 polling booths today.

Polling was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district comprising- Thanesar, Shahabad, Ladwa and Pehowa Assembly constituencies.

Urban areas witnessed less polling compared to the rural areas. Small queues were seen outside several polling booths in the urban areas of the Thanesar Assembly constituency and it witnessed the lowest turnout in the district.

The voting pattern was almost similar in Ladwa and Shahabad as these two constituencies recorded above 82 per cent polling. Pehowa recorded just below 80 per cent while Thanesar witnessed 75 per cent polling by the end of the day.

As per the data provided by the election authorities, about 5,14,426 electorates cast their votes at 691 polling booths. In Shahabad, it was 83.4 per cent, followed by Ladwa (82.2 per cent), Pehowa (79.9 per cent) and Thanesar (75 per cent).

Hisar: The Hisar district, comprising seven Assembly segments, clocked 77.7 per cent turnout.

The maximum turnout of 82.3 percent was reported.

The Hisar segment recorded the minimum polling at 70 per cent. Congress MLA Savitri Jindal faces a tough contest from BJP’s Kamal Gupta and HJC’s Gautam Sardana from this seat.

Around 78.5 per cent and 79 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the Uklana (reserved) and Barwala Assembly segments, respectively.

In Adampur, 78.1 per cent turnout was recorded; in Hansi, 77.8 per cent; and in Nalwa, 76.4 per cent.

Kaithal: The polling in four Assembly segments of this district was recorded at 81.7 per cent. In Kaithal, 81.9 per cent of the voters turned out to vote; in Guhla (reserved), 80.9 per cent; in Pundri, 82.2 per cent; and in Kalayat, 81.9 per cent.

(Inputs from Deepender Deswal from Hisar and Satish Seth from Kaithal)

Sonepat, October 15
The polling in all six constituencies — Sonepat, Gannaur, Rai, Kharkhoda (reserved), Gohana and Baroda — of the district was by and large peaceful today. The district recorded 74 per cent voter turnout. The highest voting percentage was recorded in Gannaur constituency (77 per cent), whereas the lowest 68.5 per cent was recorded from Kharkhoda (reserved). Gohana recorded 76 per cent, Baroda 74 per cent, Rai 74.5 per cent and Sonepat 69 per cent.

Sirsa/Fatehabad: Over 82% polling was observed in the five Assembly seats of Sirsa district while Fatehabad saw over 81% voters exercising their franchisee in the three Assembly seats of the district.

Several stalwarts such as Abhay Singh Chautala and Naina Singh Chautala from the INLD, Ranjit Singh and KV Singh from the Congress, Jagdish Nehra and Sunita Setia from the BJP and Gopal Kanda from the Haryana Lokhit Party are locked in triangular or four-cornered contest in Sirsa.

In Fatehabad, Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prahlad Singh Gillankhera, INLD’s district president Nishan Singh and former IRS officer Sunita Duggal (BJP) are in the fray. — TNS

Mewa/Hisar/Sirsa, October 15
A child died in a stampede following a clash at a polling station in Mewat’s Punhana segment and nearly 40 persons were injured in stray incidents of violence that marked the Assembly polls today.

Violence was reported from almost all centres in Mewat’s Punhana and Ferozepur Jhirka segments. A two-and-a-half-year-old died in a stampede at a polling station in Raheera village of Punhana where supporters of INLD candidate Mohammad Illiyas and Independent Rahisa Khan came to blows.

The child fell from the arms of his mother and was trampled over. Five persons, including the child’s mother, were injured. They were referred to Al-Afia hospital in Mandi Khera.

Violence and clashes were also reported from Mundeta, Bisru, Laharwari, Firozpur Meo in Punhana constituency. Several persons, including sitting Nuh Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed’s younger brother Mehtab, were injured.

Violence began around midnight Tuesday when Mehtab was allegedly attacked while he was returning after distributing forms to polling agents. Two cars bearing stickers of INLD candidate Zakir Hussain intercepted his vehicle. Some youths got out of the car and fired in the air. They attacked Mehtab, thrashed him and snatched around Rs 4,500 from him.

While a police complaint was filed and 33 persons were named in the FIR, but Aftab supporters were not satisfied and allegedly attacked Zakir Hussain’s car on Nuh-Hodal road. An FIR has been registered.

The situation was also tense in Ferozepur Jhirka. Supporters of Congress candidate Azaad Mohammad and Independent Mamman Khan came to blows in Purani Tehsil. Mamman Khan got a tip-off that Azaad Mohammad’s agents were casting bogus votes and rushed to the booth with his supporters and allegedly thrashed the presiding officer. The presiding officer has filed a complaint against Mamman Khan.

In Hisar district’s Barwala, 30 persons — including some women and cops — were injured in a violent clash between Jats and Dalits said to be supporters of the INLD and the HJC, respectively, in Niyana village. Seven motorcycles were also set ablaze in the clash that lasted nearly two hours.

Trouble erupted after a Dalit youth caste his vote at booth number 76 in the village government school. The incident assumed caste overtones when a Jat youth alleged he had caste a bogus vote. This led to a verbal duel and people from both communities gathered at the spot armed with lathis and brickbats. A free-for-all ensued that continued for about two hours. Members of both groups indulged in fierce stonepelting and attacked each other with sticks.

An eyewitness said the initial brawl took place on the school premises, but later people from both sides took positions outside school as well. A villager said even women and children were beaten up by the rival factions.

The police used force to control the mob and reportedly used teargas. Hisar IGP Hanif Qureshi, SP Vikas Dhankar, DC ML Kaushik and other officials rushed to the spot. Heavy police force has been deployed in the village, as tension continues between the communities. No FIR has been lodged.

A police spokesperson denied reports that the police lobbed teargas shells to defuse the situation, while adding no policemen was injured in the clash.

In Sirsa, Sandeep (30), an INLD supporter, sustained bullet injuries when a BJP supporter fired at him in Modia Khera village. Sandeep, who is in PGIMS-Rohtak, alleged BJP nominee Sunita Setia’s son Gokul Setia fired at him when he stopped BJP workers from capturing a booth. Setia’s husband Rahul Setia trashed the allegations and said INLD workers were, in fact, trying to capture booths.

In another incident in Sirsa, irate INLD workers damaged Haryana Lokhit Party candidate Gopal Kanda’s vehicle in Goshala Mohalla area.

INLD candidate Makhan Lal Singla was reportedly having tea with his brother Om Prakash and some supporters when Kanda came there. They both got into a heated argument during which Kanda allegedly slapped Singla’s brother.

At Kalanwali, the police booked Surinder Kumar, gunman of the SAD (B) Guru Har Sahai MLA, after an AK 47 was recovered from him at Jhorar Rohi village. The police said the MLA escaped from the scene.

Tension prevailed at Khajuri village in Yamunanagar’s Radaur segment following a clash between BJP and INLD supporters at booth numbers 114-115 here today.

A police party rushed in and dispersed them, but in the melee three persons sustained minor injuries. Jathlana SHO Nirmal Singh visited the spot and said no case was registered as both parties did not lodge a complaint.

(Inputs from Shiv Kumar Sharma in  Yamunanagar & Nitish Sharma in Kurukshetra)

Sirsa, October 15
For the first time since his coronation in 1990, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh exercised his right to franchise at Sirsa today.

The Dera chief went to Government Senior Secondary at Begu in Sirsa with his family members and cast his vote. Pawan Insan, a spokesperson for the Dera, said before his coronation, he had his vote in Rajasthan.

The Dera Sacha Sauda had this time extended its wholehearted support to the BJP in these Assembly polls. He went to the extent of tweeting today, “The decision which the Haryana Sadh Sangat and the political affairs wing has taken should be followed by everyone with unity,” when he noticed that some news channels were creating confusion over Dera’s support to the BJP by playing his old video.

Political observers maintain that though the Dera has been extending its support to the Congress in Haryana and Punjab in the past, but Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has tried to show himself aloof from the decision of his followers. The Prime Minister had also praised the Dera in his speech at Sirsa. Dera followers were also seen coming out in large numbers to cast their votes.

Rohtak, October 15
The BJP has accused Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of violating the model code of conduct.

In a communiqué add-ressed to DN Gupta, observer, Rohtak assembly segment, district BJP president Ramesh Bhatia has alleged that Hooda had carried out a roadshow on Railway Road in the town last evening “in utter disrespect to guidelines and instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and in glaring violation of the model code of conduct”.

The BJP complaint maintains that the Chief Minister carried out the roadshow around 4.30 p.m. on October 14 along with nearly 100 supporters and local Congress leaders, including incumbent MLA and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Batra, to influence the voters even though the campaigning was over at 6 p.m. on October 13.

Bhatia maintained that the taking out of a procession by the Chief Minister and his companions also violated Section 144, CrPC, imposed by the Rohtak District Magistrate.

“The violation of the model code of conduct by the Chief Minister and his supporters has rendered them liable to be dealt as per law. There is great annoyance amongst supporters of other parties, including the BJP and residents of Rohtak city, the communiqué states, requesting the observer to “take appropriate action into the matter.”

Copies of the communiqué have also been sent to the returning officer of the Rohtak assembly segment; DEO, Rohtak; and the CEO, Haryana, for necessary action.

Rohtak, October 15
The ruling Congress seems to be in an unenviable situation in Rohtak, the home district of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

A survey of all four assembly segments falling in the district on the day of polling revealed that barring Chief Minister Hooda, no other Congress candidate was in a comfortable position.

Political pundits say even Hooda’s winning margin is likely to register a sharp decline this time

In 2009 , Hooda defeated his nearest rival, Satish Nandal (INLD), by a huge margin from the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi assembly segment. However, at that time, the BJP was nearly out of picture. This time, the BJP has emerged as a formidable political force to reckon with not only in the state but also in the CM’s constituency. This time, apart from INLD’s Nandal, BJP’s Dharambir Hooda has also given a fight to the incumbent Chief Minister.

Congress candidate Shakuntala Khatak from Kalanaur (reserved) constituency is also on a sticky wicket as she faced a stiff competition from BJP’s Ram Avtar Balmiki. INLD’s Fakir Chand, who is brother of late Haryana minister Kartar Devi, was also in the fray.

CM’s confidant Bharat Bhushan Batra, who was the Congress nominee from Rohtak , is also locked in a direct and tough contest with Haryana BJP general secretary Munish Grover.

Above 80% voting recorded in Meham also denotes that the voters may have opted for a change, ringing alarm bells for incumbent MLA Anand Singh Dangi.

Rohtak, October 15
The Haryana electorate will endorse the development agenda and elect the Congress to power in the state for the third consecutive time, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told reporters after casting his vote at Sanghi, his native village in the district, today.

Hooda, who was accompanied by his MP son Deepender, wife Asha Hooda and other family members, maintained that the agenda of development, welfare policies and a responsible administration had created a favourable atmosphere for the ruling Congress in the state.

Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda said a pro-incumbency wave was evident in the entire state and the Congress would retain power. Earlier, Hooda sought the blessings of his mother, Hardei, at his Rohtak residence before proceeding to Sanghi. 

Panipat, October 15
Twentysix-year-old Raj Kumar was one of the several Gadia Lohar nomads who finally got the right to vote for the first time after 67 years of Independence, but he — like most of the others — did not vote.

Raj Kumar and 60-odd nomads who stay in the jhuggi settlement near Hanuman Chowk at HUDA, Sector 25, were enrolled as voters after the Lok Sabha election. The Tribune had on March 17 and April 11 highlighted how they had been deprived of voting rights since Independence.

When this correspondent visited the area where the nomads stay on Wednesday afternoon, most had left to sell items made of iron. Some of them who were enrolled as voters recently did not want to get photographed. Showing their voter I-cards, they said, “Give us something if you want our photograph.”

When the correspondent told them he was not a politician, but a journalist who highlighted their issue, they said, “You will benefit from our photos. We will allow you to do so only after getting something.”

Only Raj Kumar agreed to be photographed after persuasion. He and other nomads said they had not voted because they did not know where to go to vote. “We didn’t know how to go about voting. We were not issued voter slips and didn’t know where to go. Also, we will vote only when we get something from a candidate.” The first-time nomad voters were not ready to listen to anything on the importance of voting.

Raj Kumar’s mother Rajesh Kumari said she had not been enrolled as a voter as she was in Rajasthan in connection with her daughter’s marriage when poll staff came to get forms filled.

Noordin, another jhuggi dweller, said about 60 of them staying at Hanuman Chowk were issued voter I-cards about a fortnight ago.

Naib Tehsildar (Elections) Arjun Bhateja said they received instructions from the Election Commission to even enroll persons who don’t have identity proof. 

Yamunanagar, October 15
The efforts of the systematic voter education and electoral participation (SVEEP) team have yielded results as 82 per cent (6,31,830) voters turned up to vote in Yamunanagar district.

The Sadhaura Assembly segment of the district registered the highest voter turnout of 84.9 per cent (1,64,440 votes) followed by the Jagadhri segment with 84.7 per cent (1,65,204) and the Radaur constituency with 81.2 per cent (1,47,245). The Yamunanagar Assembly segment registered the lowest turnout of 76.6 per cent (1,54,937) in the district.

With an objective to motivate people to exercise their right to vote in the Assembly elections, the local administration had started SVEEP programme under the supervision of the nodal officer (SVEEP)-cum DDPO, Gagandeep Singh, and Red Cross secretary Shyam Sunder Sharma in the district last month.

The polling stations across the district were abuzz since 7 am today. Women and senior citizens came in large numbers to vote after 10 am. At Barehri village in the Radaur Assembly constituency, 100-year-old Nait Ram Kamboj set an example for the youth when he walked to his polling station to exercise his franchise.

Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar said the Assembly elections passed off peacefully in the district.

Panipat, October 15
Nearly 73.1 per cent polling was recorded in the four Assembly segments of Panipat district today.

The poll percentage is likely to go up as several electors were standing in queue in the Samalkha and Panipat rural Assembly segments till the filing of this report.

Samalkha recorded the highest 81 per cent turnout in the district, followed by 75 per cent in Israna, 74.8 in Panipat rural and lowest 63 per cent voting was recorded in Panipat city.

The fate of a number of politicians, including two sitting MLAs Krishan Lal Panwar (who was elected on the INLD ticket in 2009, but recently joined BJP after denial of ticket) and Dharam Singh Chhoker (who was elected on the Haryana Janhit Congress ticket but later joined Congress), were sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Hisar, October 15
The prediction of the satta market have indicated that the BJP would fall short of majority but emerge as the single largest party in the Assembly polls.

The latest update by the bookies predict 39-41 seats for the BJP, 27-29 for the INLD, 13-15 to the Congress and 3-5 to the HJC and rest to others in fray.

Sources revealed that the BJP is likely to form the government with the help from others.

The projections tilted towards the BJP after the Dera Sacha Sauda diktat to its followers which seem to have added 4-5 seats to the party’s kitty. Till a couple of days ago, the BJP was getting 36-37 seats while the INLD was being given 30-32 seats, the Congress was placed at 15-16 seats while the HJC was set to bag 5-6 seats.

The bookies were accepting bets based on these projections which were arrived at from feedback from the “investors” besides inputs and assessment of market experts.

The fortunes of the BJP have been fluctuating like a pendulum since the market opened about a month ago but the party has maintained its lead. “Initially, the BJP was pegged at 40-42 seats but later it started gaining and crossed the 44 seat mark, just two short of a clear majority.

However, the graph suddenly started falling owing to poor campaigning and the number to seats came down to 33-34 about a week ago. Modi’s rallies too failed to evoke the desired influence,” informed an insider.

The INLD tally went to up to a maximum of 30 - 32 seats. “The aggressive campaign by the party supremo OP Chautala boosted the morale of the workers, hence, a jump of 6-8 seats in the past two weeks,” he added

The market is not enthusiastic towards the Congress. From a poor figure of 11-12 seats in the beginning, the party has gained steadily and will likely bag 15-16 seats. The HJC will win 4-5 seats while others can get zero to 4 seats,” the insiders informed.

This is how it works. “If one bets Rs 10,000 on the BJP getting 41+ seats and the party actually gets the number, the person would get double the amount but in case he is wrong, the person would have to deposit Rs 20,000”, the insiders informed. 

Kurukshetra/Jind, October 15
Serpentine queues in rural areas, the presence of the youth brigade and veiled women in groups all added up to the highest ever polling in Haryana.

In a sharp contrast to the previous Assembly elections where the BJP only had a nominal presence, the lotus was virtually blooming on at party booths along the Ambala – Jind highway.

In Kurukshetra’s Shahbad Assembly segment in Ajrawar, a group of beedi puffing men claimed they had never before seen such a BJP “resurgence” in Haryana till now. The contest was reduced to a duel between the party’s Krishan Bedi and Ram Karan Kala of the INLD.

In Pehowa, where former Finance Minister HS Chatha’s son, Mandeep, is the Congress candidate, the villagers at various booths were clearly divided between BJPs Jai Bhagwan Sharma and INLD’s Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, a former minister who seems to have an edge in the rural pockets.

Chandigarh, October 15
He was dressed in a colourful headgear accompanied by the ‘baraat’, but Jaswinder Singh, first reached the polling booth, before heading to attend his wedding today.

Jaswinder of Assandh constituency gave preference to voting over starting his journey to Kuruskhetra for the marriage function.

It wasn't just the groom-to-be, who displayed such enthusiasm, as Sarita (27), despite suffering ‘Primordial Dwarfism’, a bone-growth disorder, reached the polling booth set up at Bairiwayas village in Rewari Assembly constituency to vote.

“I am voting for the third time. People must vote to strengthen our democracy,” Sarita said after casting her vote.— PTI