NEW DELHI: The Assembly elections in three states on Tuesday saw heavy polling — 60 per cent in Maharashtra, 66 per cent in Haryana and 72 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh. Maharashtra has 288 seats, Haryana 90 and Arunachal Pradesh 60.
Notwithstanding the massacre of 17 policemen five days ago and poll boycott call by Naxals in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, 55 per cent of electorate cast votes. Neighbouring Gondia, also hit by Maoist violence, gave a stronger rebuff to Naxals with a 68 per cent turnout.
More than 1.29 lakh state police and Central forces were deployed across Maharashtra.
To ensure safety, Election Commission had rescheduled polling time from 7 am to 3 pm instead of 5 pm. However, polls had to be adjourned in 22 booths — 10 in Aheri taluka, 7 in Armori and 5 in Gadchiroli — as polling officials could not reach their destinations because Naxals fired in the air and obstructed their way.
Polling over 50 per cent, Mumbai did better than the general elections when it had registered 41 per cent turnout.
In Haryana, police said Jyoti Ram, the polling agent of an independent candidate, was killed in a clash in Hemu Majra village of Kaithal, 150 km from Chandigarh.
Exit polls predicted a hung Assembly in Maharashtra. The outcome in Maharashtra is expected to have a bearing on national politics. Both Star TV and IBN-Lokmat exit polls suggested a split verdict in Maharashtra, with the Congress-NCP combine emerging on top. The Congress is expected to sweep Haryana due to a splintered opposition and also win in Arunachal Pradesh.