61 per cent voter turn out in repolling at 73 Kairana booths

Repolling at 73 booths in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency passed off peacefully today with an estimated voter turn out of 61 per cent, the state election office said here.

The Election Commission had yesterday ordered repolling at these polling stations in view of technical snags in EVM-VVPAT machines during the bye-election on Monday.

The bypolls witnessed campaigns by different political parties and leaders in a manner that was seen by many as desperate attempts to win and increase their chances of winning in the next year’s Lok Sabha elections. 

High stakes are involved for two national parties – BJP and Congress. Apparently for BJP, to hold the vacated seats was the top most priority. The Congress aggressively campaigned with a hope to increase its tally after it managed to form the government in Karnataka.

The bypolls witnessed allegations by different parties about EVM malfunctioning, with Election Commission denying it and holding that all polls were conducted in free and fair manner and no untoward incident was reported.

(With inputs from PTI)