Re-polling is underway in:
49 booths in Bhandara-Gondiya, Maharashtra
73 booths in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh
One booth in Nagaland’s Aongleden
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61% Voter Turn Out in Kairana
61 percent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm during re-poll at 73 polling booths in Kairana bypoll, reported ANI.
52% Voter Turnout in Kairana
52 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm during re-poll at 73 polling booths in Kairana bypolls, reported ANI.
Kairana Outcome Crucial to BJP, Opposition
The outcome on 31 May of the Kairana bye-election will show if the ruling BJP manages to break its losing streak this year in Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha bypolls or hands over a hat-trick to the opposition.
The counting of votes for the Noorpur assembly constituency in UP will also be taken up on Thursday.
Altogether, results of bye-elections for four parliamentary and nine assembly seats across states will be declared. Polling took place on 28 May.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has campaigned hard for Kairana.
It hopes to send a strong message to voters, party workers as well as the opposition parties that the drubbing it got in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bye-elections was an aberration – and that it is very much a force to reckon with in western UP.
EC, Democracy "Mistress" of Those in Power: Sena Over VVPAT Malfunctioning
In a virulent attack on the Election Commission (EC) over complaints of malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines in bypolls, the Shiv Sena, on 30 May, dubbed the poll panel, democracy and elections as "mistress" of those in power.
Unsparing in its criticism of ally BJP, the Sena alleged that the ruling party, which, it said, has an "autocratic mindset", has corrupted the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to serve its own purpose.
It warned that people's loss of faith in the election process was "dangerous" for democracy.
“Our country can no longer be called the largest democracy in the world. EVMs have spoilt the democracy. Those in power at present have made democracy their mistress with their autocratic mindset,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said.
"The BJP has corrupted EVMs, and made them into a machinery that can be used for its own purpose. Elections and the Election Commission have become the mistress," it alleged.
Referring to complaints of technical snags in EVMs and VVPAT machines in Maharashtra's Bhandara-Gondia and Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls, it said while each vote counts and can be a deciding factor, thousands of people got "bored" waiting in queues and returned without voting after the machines malfunctioned.
"The present Election Commission and its machinery have become like slaves of the government. Hence, they are not ready to take complaints of distribution of alcohol and money, the autocracy of government and threatening statements," it charged.