05-08-2009, 08:09 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Heat, marriages keep polling at 50%</b>
pioneer.com
Akhilesh Suman/Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Amid stray incidents of violence, which resulted in the death of a person and left another injured when security forces opened fire to foil an attempt to capture a booth, politically crucial <b>Rajasthan witnessed around 50 per cent (of the 3.69 crore) voters exercising their franchise for the 25 seats in the State.</b>
Police had to open fire at a mob that tried to capture a polling booth at Olwara village in Sawai Madhopur even as Meena strongman and independent candidate Kirorilal Meena received minor injuries when unidentified persons pelted stones at his convoy near Bhadarej village.
Contrary to the 64 per cent turnout during the Assembly election last year, the 50 per cent turnout on Thursday was attributed to the intense heat and the polling day coinciding with a large number of marriages.
In an almost bi-polar State, the BJP â which lost power in the State â is eyeing at least 17 of the 25 seats whereas the Congress has targeted no less than 21 seats, a number which the BJP had bagged in 2004.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
Akhilesh Suman/Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Amid stray incidents of violence, which resulted in the death of a person and left another injured when security forces opened fire to foil an attempt to capture a booth, politically crucial <b>Rajasthan witnessed around 50 per cent (of the 3.69 crore) voters exercising their franchise for the 25 seats in the State.</b>
Police had to open fire at a mob that tried to capture a polling booth at Olwara village in Sawai Madhopur even as Meena strongman and independent candidate Kirorilal Meena received minor injuries when unidentified persons pelted stones at his convoy near Bhadarej village.
Contrary to the 64 per cent turnout during the Assembly election last year, the 50 per cent turnout on Thursday was attributed to the intense heat and the polling day coinciding with a large number of marriages.
In an almost bi-polar State, the BJP â which lost power in the State â is eyeing at least 17 of the 25 seats whereas the Congress has targeted no less than 21 seats, a number which the BJP had bagged in 2004.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->