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Madhya Pradesh assembly elections 2018 Highlights: Congress seeks repolling on booths hit by long hours of EVM snag

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByHT Correspondent
Nov 28, 2018 11:01 PM IST

Madhya Pradesh voted Wednesday to elect a 230-member assembly. The state has witnessed a high decibel campaign for the poll, which remains a direct battle BJP and Congress. The BJP is eyeing a fourth straight term in office, while the Congress is hoping for a comeback after 15 years in the Opposition.The state registered a record 75 per cent voter turnout for the state Assembly polls that was marred by complaints of faulty EVMs. The BJP has fielded candidates for all 230 seats while the Congress is contesting 229, leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for the Sharad Yadav-led Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).Here are the highlights :

8:40 pm IST

Demand repolling where voting was halted for over 3 hours: Congress

Voters show their identity card as they stand in a queue at a polling station, in Jahangirabad, Bhopal, India, on Wednesday.(HT Photo)
Voters show their identity card as they stand in a queue at a polling station, in Jahangirabad, Bhopal, India, on Wednesday.(HT Photo)

We’ve demanded that repolling be done at all those polling booths where voting process was halted for 3 hrs or more because voters do not come back there as everybody has some work. Merely saying that polling will be extended till 9 o’clock or 10 o’clock is not right: Kamal Nath

7:18pm IST

75 per cent voter turnout in MP, higher than 2013

Around 75 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, Deputy Election Commissioner C B Kumar said Wednesday. In Madhya Pradesh, as many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray for the 230 seats, but the main contest is between the Congress and the BJP.

6:16pm IST

74.61% voter turnout till 6pm

74.61% voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh till 6pm, says chief electoral officer of Madhya Pradesh.

2126 VVPATs, 883 ballot units and 881 control units were replaced, he said.

5:21 pm IST

Polling for Madhya Pradesh elections end

Poll officials say 65.5% voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

In the 2013 Assembly election, 72.69 per cent turnout was recorded, an election official said.

4:39 pm IST

BJP moves EC, alleges Kamal Nath violated Model Code of Conduct

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has moved the Election Commission (EC) against Congress leader Kamal Nath for an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct by showing his hand- a symbol of the Congress party- after casting his vote in Chhindwara on Wednesday

3:28 pm IST

BJYM state president casts vote

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha state president Abhilash casts his vote from Jabalpur.

3:26 pm IST

BJP leader Suhas Bhagat casts vote

BJP leader Suhas Bhagat casts his vote.

3:24 pm IST

Big turnout in Maoist-affected areas

66%, 64% and 68% polling reported in Maoist-affected Baihar, Lanjhi and Paraswada respectively.

3:20 pm IST

BJP leader Riti Pathak casts vote

BJP leader Riti Pathak casts her vote.

3:18 pm IST

1,545 VVPAT machines replaced

1,545 VVPAT, 383 control units and 586 ballot units replaced across the state, as per chief electoral officer, Madhya Pradesh.

3:16 pm IST

50% voting till 3 pm

50% voting till 3 pm, as per chief electoral officer, Madhya Pradesh.

3:14 pm IST

Voting closes in three Maoist-affected seats

Voting closes in three Maoist-affected assembly constituencies of Balaghat — Baihar, Lanjhi and Paraswada — as per schedule. In these constituencies, voting started at 7 am.

3:12 pm IST

BJP’s Mohan Yadav casts vote

BJP leader Mohan Yadav casts his vote. He appealed to people to come out in large numbers and take part in the poll process.

3:10 pm IST

Miscreants fire in air in Morena

Reports of firing in the air by miscreants at Jauri village under Somaoli assembly constituency in Morena district.

3:08 pm IST

46.61% voting till 3 pm

46.61 per cent voting recorded till 3 pm, according to EC officials.

3:06 pm IST

Scindia asks EC to take immediate steps against EVM malfunctioning

Jyotiraditya Scindia requests CEC to issue immediate orders to urgently cater to all complaints of EVMs malfunctioning across the state and ensure that in every polling station where voting got delayed or had to be stopped, polling should be extended beyond 5 pm.

3:04 pm IST

BJP leader Vijesh Lunawat casts vote

BJP state vice-president Vijesh Lunawat casts his vote.

3:03 pm IST

Sambit Patra appeals people to vote

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra appeals people to cast their votes.

3:02 pm IST

BJP leader Sampatiya Uikey casts vote

BJP tribal leader Sampatiya Uikey casts her vote. She appealed to people to vote in large numbers.

3:00 pm IST

BJP leader Rampal Singh casts vote

BJP leader Rampal Singh casts his vote from Begamganj

2:58 pm IST

Jyotiraditya Scindia complains to EC about EVM malfunctioning

State Congress campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia writes to chief election commissioner OP Rawat saying, “Our polling agents have been constantly observing and interacting with voters to record all grievances and the rate at which EVMs are malfunctioning is alarming.”

2:50 pm IST

More than 3 lakh govt employees on poll duty

Altogether, 3,00,782 government employees, including 45,904 women, have been deployed on poll duty across the state, where 65,341 polling stations have been set up.

2:48 pm IST

2,899 candidates in the fray

As many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray. The state has 5.04 crore eligible voters.

2:42 pm IST

Shivraj expresses grief at the death of poll officials

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expresses grief at the death of polling officials on election duty.

2:36 pm IST

Long queues at polling stations

2:28 pm IST

Dhar BJP MP casts vote

BJP MP from Dhar Savitri Thakur casts her vote.

2:26 pm IST

Congress polling agent shot at

Pradeep Singh Bhadauria, polling agent of the Congress candidate in Mehgaon assembly constituency, was shot at and seriously injured. He was rushed to a hospital in Gwalior.

2:24 pm IST

Surkhi BJP hopeful casts vote

BJP candidate from Surkhi, Sudheer Yadav, casts his vote.

2:22 pm IST

Narendra Tomar casts vote

Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar casts his vote.

2:20 pm IST

BJP Huzur candidate casts vote

BJP state vice-president and Huzur candidate Rameshwar casts his vote.

2:16 pm IST

35.8% polling till 2 pm

35.80% polling recorded till 2 pm, as per chief electoral office, Madhya Pradesh.

2:12 pm IST

Ujjain BJP MP casts vote

Ujjain BJP MP Chintamani Malviya casts his vote.

2:08 pm IST

Damoh BJP MP casts vote

Damoh BJP MP Prahlad Patel casts his vote.

2:05 pm IST

Sidhi BJP MP casts vote

Sidhi BJP MP Riti Pathak casts her vote.

2:04 pm IST

Satna BJP MP votes

Satna BJP MP Ganesh Singh casts his vote.

2:02 pm IST

Jabalpur BJP MP votes

Jabalpur BJP MP Rakesh Singh casts his vote along with his family.

1:58 pm IST

BJP leader Lokendra Parashar votes

Madhya Pradesh BJP leader Lokendra Parashar casts his vote.

1:52 pm IST

Rajgarh MP casts vote

Rajgarh BJP MP Rodmal Nagar casts his vote.

1:47 pm IST

Three arrested for firing incident at Bhind

Firing by unknown people at polling booth number 72 in Bhind assembly constituency. Three people have been arrested.

1:44 pm IST

Kamal Nath responds to allegations

I had already cast my vote. When people asked me, when those from media asked me whom I voted for, I showed this (palm). What else could have I done? Show a lotus: Kamal Nath, Congress leader, tells news agency ANI on showing his election symbol after casting his vote in Chhindwara.

1:40 pm IST

Faulty EVMs and VVPATs replaced: CEC

There were a few complaints on malfunction of some EVMs and VVPAT machines. They have been replaced. If it is found that voters left due to malfunction, we can consider re-polling in those particular polling stations: CEC OP Rawat on instances of EVM malfunctioning in Madhya Pradesh.

1:30 pm IST

Local officials can take call on extending polling time: CEC

There are provisions for extension of time. Local officials can take a call as they see fit. The matter does not need to be handled by the election commission: Chief election commissioner OP Rawat on Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia’s request to extend polling time due to EVM malfunction.

1:27 pm IST

People do not have basic amenities under BJP: Congress leader

I have visited villages and towns of Madhya Pradesh. People in these areas do not have access to even basic amenities such as water and electricity: Congress leader Arun Yadav, who is contesting against Shivraj Chouhan from Budhni.

1:25 pm IST

Shivraj’s opponent confident of Congress win

I am here in Budhni from the past 15 days. I believe that the majority of people will vote for Congress. People are upset with this (BJP) government because they have not carried out any substantial development so far: Congress leader Arun Yadav, who is contesting against CM Shivraj Chouhan from Budhni.

1:18 pm IST

28.68% voting till 1 pm

28.68 per cent voting has been recorded till 1 pm, say election officials.

1:12 pm IST

Special child care provisions

Special provision has been made for milk-feeding babies at a polling booth in Bhopal.

1:10 pm IST

Firing in Bhind

Firing has been reported from two places in Bhind — in booth numbers 122 and 131-134.

1:08 pm IST

Sitting arrangements for voters

Chairs have been provided for voters at St Joseph’s school, Bhopal.

1:02 pm IST

Long queues witnessed in polling booths

Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

12:55 pm IST

Age no bar in festival of democracy

Shyama Kushwaha, who hardly remembers her age, reaches the polling centre at Nutan Subhash High School, South TT Nagar, Bhopal, after walking for about a kilometre with no family member to accompany her. She was provided a wheelchair to help her cast vote by polling personnel. She says she has been casting votes for decades, but there has been no change in the system.

Shyama Kushwaha arrives to cast her vote.

12:50 pm IST

Muslims come out to vote in large numbers

A Muslim woman casts her vote in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

12:45 pm IST

Strong security in polling booths

RAF personnel keep vigil at a polling booth at Jinsi Chouraha in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

12:40 pm IST

Two generations vote

A first-time voter and her grandfather show their inked fingers after casting votes at Barkhedi booth in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

12:35 pm IST

Three arrested after BJP and Congress workers clash

BJP and Congress workers clash in Chachoda assembly constituency in Guna district. Three people have been arrested. The Congress candidate in this seat is Laxman Singh, brother of Digvijaya Singh

12:20 pm IST

BJP, Congress candidates asked to be alert after vandalism in Bhind

Bhind district administration asks Ater assembly constituency candidates Arvind Bhadoriya of BJP and Hemant Katare of Congress to stay put in the local circuit house as a precautionary measure.

12:14 pm IST

EVMs, tehsildar’s vehicle damaged in Bhind

Voting stopped in Raipura Lahar assembly constituency in Bhind district after two EVMs were damaged by anti-socials. The tehsildar’s vehicle was also damaged. Police is present on the spot.

12:12 pm IST

Kamal Nath demands repoll due to EVM malfunctioning

State Congress president Kamal Nath demands repoll tomorrow in all those areas where EVMs malfunctioned and many voters left seeing the long queue.

12:10 pm IST

Want voting time to be extended due to EVM malfunctioning: Scindia

There have been many complaints of EVM malfunctioning. We have written to the Election Commission and requested that voting time in these booths be extended to compensate for the delay: Jyotiraditya Scindia, Congress leader, reports ANI.

12:05 pm IST

22% voting till 11 am

22 per cent voting recorded till 11am, says chief electoral officer V Kantha Rao.

12:00 pm IST

A light moment during polling

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia hugs aunt and former BJP minister Maya Singh when they met during voting in Gwalior.

11:50 am IST

Congress plays up Hindu association this time

The fear of being seen as a pro-Muslim party has led to the Congress extensively playing up its Hindu association. From frequent temple visits by Rahul Gandhi to a manifesto that takes a pronounced position in favour of what are perceived to be Hindu causes such as cow protection, the Congress has competed with the BJP in telling Hindu voters that their concerns will be taken care of.

Read: 10 factors that may influence MP polls outcome

11:30 am IST

Rs 10 lakh compensation for kin of deceased poll officials

Election Commission announces Rs 10 lakh each compensation for the kin of poll officials who passed away while on election duty due to cardiac arrest, reports news agency ANI.

11:24 am IST

Kailash Vijayvargiya rides a chariot

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya rides on a chariot to cast his vote in Madhya Pradesh.

11:18 am IST

9.5 per cent voting till 10 am

9.5 per cent voting has been recorded in Madhya Pradesh till 10 am, says chief electoral officer V Kantha Rao.

11:08 am IST

Key candidates this time

As polling in Madhya Pradesh is underway, here’s a look at the key candidates:

11:05 am IST

Congress will form the government: Jyotiraditya Scindia

I assure you that on December 11, Congress will form the government in Madjya Pradesh with the blessings of people: Jyotiraditya Scindia after casting his vote at a polling booth in Gwalior, reports ANI.

11:00 am IST

Congress candidate on dharna against EVM malfunction

Congress candidate from Bhopal South-West constituency PC Sharma sits on dharna demanding change of EVM machines, following reports of massive malfunctioning across the state.

10:38 am IST

EC officials work on faulty EVMs

Poll officials busy with faulty EVM at a polling booth in Jehangirabad in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

10:32 am IST

Two election commission officials pass away

Two election commission officials died on duty due to cardiac arrest in Indore and Guna, says chief electoral officer V Kantha Rao.

10:26 am IST

Around 100 EVMs changed

Around 100 EVMs changed all over the state, says chief electoral officer V Kantha Rao.

10:25 am IST

6.32 per cent voting till 9 am

6.32 per cent voting till 9 am, according to chief electoral officer V Kantha Rao.

10:24 am IST

Congress candidate protests EVM malfunctioning

In Bhopal South-West assembly constituency, Congress candidate PC Sharma stages protest against EVM malfunction in several booths.

10:22 am IST

Candidate’s name printed wrong on EVM

In Mauganj assembly constituency, SAPAKS party candidate Rajmani Shukla’s name has been printed on EVMs as Rammani Shukla. He has lodged protest.

10:15 am IST

101-year-old woman casts vote

A 101-year-old woman casts her vote in Agar Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.

10:02 am IST

Congress wooing farmers

Farm distress has given a shot in the arm to the Congress campaign. The party has been wooing farmers in the Malwa-Nimar region with a promise of Rs 2 lakh loan waiver, among others schemes.

10:00 am IST

Farmers’ discontent a concern for BJP

For the BJP, which is battling 15 years of anti-incumbency, farmers’ discontent has been a concern. The Malwa-Nimar region sends 66 legislators to the 230-member assembly. The BJP won 56 of these 66 seats in the 2013 elections. Congress managed just 9 seats.

9:54 am IST

EVM in Dabra fixed

The EVM at polling booth number 178 in Dabra has now been fixed, reports ANI. Polling is underway.

9:52 am IST

Police seize campaign material from BJP’s polling agents

Police seize campaign material from BJP’s polling agents from a polling booth in Saint Mary’s, Bhopal, as it was within 200 metres of a polling booth. One person has been taken to custody.

9:45 am IST

BJP workers confident of victory

Most BJP workers are confident that the party will be able to pull off a Gujarat-2017 like performance, where the BJP’s seats came down but the party retained its majority, in Madhya Pradesh this time.

9:40 am IST

Watch here: ‘Want bhav, not bhavantar’, say angry Mandsaur farmers

9:28 am IST

Faulty EVMs replaced

Two faulty EVMs in Ujjain have been replaced. Eleven VVPAT machines in Alirajpur, and five VVPAT machines and two EVMs in Burhanpur have also been replaced, reports news agency ANI.

9:27 am IST

100% certain that BJP will form government: Chouhan

We’re 100% certain that BJP will form the government with absolute majority. We have set a target of 200 seats and our lakhs of volunteers are working to make it a reality: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan after casting his vote in Budhni.

9:22 am IST

Shivraj Chouhan casts vote

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan casts vote in Budhni. Chouhan, while speaking to the media after casting his vote in Budhni, urged voters to come out and exercise their franchise.

9:17 am IST

EVM malfunctions in Bhopal

At a polling booth at Rashidia school in Bhopal, voters have been waiting since 8 am to cast their votes as EVM is not functioning

9:16 am IST

Six EVMs malfunction in Jhabua

There are reports of six EVMs not working in various places in tribal-dominated Jhabua district.

9:15 am IST

Clashes in Barwani district

Firing in the air. Two two-wheelers burnt following election-related clash in Jhapdi Padla village of Sendhwa town in Barwani district. Cases registered against BJP workers.

9:14 am IST

Rahul Gandhi appeals people to vote

9:10 am IST

First time voters cast their votes in Bhopal

9:04 am IST

Two EVMs malfunction in Indore

Two EVMs malfunction in Indore — one at Maurya Dharamshala and the other at Green Park Colony. Voting yet to begin in Maurya Dharamshala. At Green Park Colony, the EVM has been replaced.

8:58 am IST

Here’s a look at how the parties fared in 2013

8:48 am IST

Women voters cast their votes

8:43 am IST

EVMs rectified in Char Imli

EVMs rectified in Char Imli , Bhopal. Voting delayed by about 15 minutes. Chief electoral officer of Madhya Pradesh VL Kantharao was one of officers who couldn’t cast votes on time due to the delay.

8:42 am IST

Amit Shah appeals people to vote

8:40 am IST

Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia casts her vote

Madhya Pradesh minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia casts her vote at a polling station in Shivpuri. She is up against Congress’ Siddharth Lada.

8:38 am IST

Kamal Nath casts vote

Congress leader Kamal Nath casts his vote in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh.

8:37 am IST

Congress promises women’s security

8:36 am IST

Congress promises bright future

8:35 am IST

EVM malfunctions

EVM malfunctions at polling booth number 178 in Dabra,Gwalior district, reports ANI.

8:32 am IST

Visuals from Bhopal

Voters stand in a queue to cast their votes at Char Imli locality in Bhopal. ( Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo )

8:25 am IST

EVMs malfunction

Two EVMs malfunction at Char Imli locality in Bhopal where most bureaucrats reside.

8:15 am IST

Kamal Nath offers prayers

Congress leader Kamal Nath offers prayers at Hanuman temple in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh.

8:15 am IST

Visuals from polling booth in Indore

8:14 am IST

PM Modi urges voters to participate in ‘festival of democracy’

8:04 am IST

Congress appeals people to vote

8:02 am IST

Have full faith in the people of MP: Kamal Nath

I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh. They are simple and innocent people who have been robbed for a long time by the BJP: Kamal Nath of Congress tells ANI.

8:00 am IST

Polling begins in other seats

Polling begins in the remaining 227 assembly constituencies.

7:55 am IST

Shivraj offers prayers

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan prays on the banks of Narmada river, in Budhni.

7:50 am IST

759 candidates with criminal cases

There are 759 candidates with criminal cases out of the total 2,716 nominees from various parties who are contesting the MP assembly elections this year, an analysis of the affidavits filed by them has shown.

7:46 am IST

656 crorepati candidates in the fray

The percentage of multi-millionaire or crorepati candidates in the MP assembly elections this year has gone up to 24% from 19% in 2013, an analysis of affidavits of 2,716 out of 2,899 nominees contesting the polls has shown. There are a total of 656 crorepati candidates.

7:32 am IST

BJP appeals people to vote

7:25 am IST

Visuals from polling station in Bhopal

7:00 am IST

Voting begins in three seats

Voting begins in three Maoist-affected constituencies in Balaghat district — Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar. Voting in rest of the seats will commence at 8 am.

6:35 am IST

How MP voted in 2013

In the 2013 assembly polls, the BJP had won 165 seats, Congress 58, BSP four and independents three seats.

6:30 am IST

Congress’s campaigned on mix of local and national issues

The Congress’s campaign involved a mix of local and national issues, including farm distress, lack of development and unemployment, corruption, lack of security for women and atrocities on Dalits and adivasis.

Read- Sops, freebies dominate BJP, Congress promise to Madhya Pradesh farmers

6:20 am IST

PM Modi may not be decisive factor for MP election

The Madhya Pradesh elections could well be the first where either Modi is not a prominent factor, or at best, delivers mixed results. The focus is primarily on state leaders, but even here there is a puzzle. The BJP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan — with his carefully cultivated image of Mamaji (uncle), bestowing welfare on the population — enjoys goodwill. But it is not clear whether this will translate to support for local candidates battling anti-incumbency.

6:15 am IST

Why Madhya Pradesh election is crucial

Madhya Pradesh is arguably the most closely fought and the most interesting election among the five states going to polls. As the battle in the heart of India gets underway today, it will not only reveal the preferences of the state’s voters and issues that concern them, but also shape the future trajectories of BJP and Congress.

6:10 am IST

Over 5 crore voters to decide fate of 2907 candidates

There are 2, 907candidates are in the fray this election. The BJP is contesting all the 230 seats, while the Congress has fielded 229 candidates, leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for its ally - Sharad Yadav’s Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).

The BSP has fielded 227 candidates, while the SP is contesting on 52 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contesting the Madhya Pradesh elections for the first time, has fielded 208 candidates.

A total of 5,04,95,251 voters including 41,30, 90 females and 1389 third gender will cast their votes.

News / Elections / Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2018 / Madhya Pradesh assembly elections 2018 Highlights: Congress seeks repolling on booths hit by long hours of EVM snag
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