Madhya Pradesh reported a voter turnout of over of 70 per cent for the 230 Assembly seats that went to polls on Monday, Election Commission officials said on Monday.
In 2008, the turnout was 69.58 per cent.
“The final figure is likely to increase as people were still waiting in line to cast their vote after the official time for close of polls had passed. Polling was brisk and by and large peaceful. There were a few stray incidents of breakdown of law and order including one incident in which an electronic voting machine was broken by miscreants. A case was registered against a Bharatiya Janata Party Minister for trying to bribe the voters,” Commission officials told newspersons.
During the elections, “cash and items” amounting to over Rs 17.46 crore was seized, which included capture of unaccounted cash of over Rs 7.8 crore, officials said.
Mizoram, where elections for the 40 seats were also held, saw a turnout of 81 per cent. “The election was brisk and absolutely peaceful,” officials said.
ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in