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Election Commission deployed robot in polling station

Puducherry. Till 3 pm, 72.4 percent voters exercised their franchise for the assembly elections in Puducherry. A steady increase in the number of voters was seen since polling began at 7 am. There was a lot of activity especially in the rural constituencies where a large number of elderly voters and women came to the polling stations to exercise their franchise.

In a modern initiative, the election department deployed a robot at a polling booth, which welcomed voters with flower petals and gave them a message on the importance of voting. While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in the fray to retain power, the opposition Congress-led alliance is contesting the All India N.R. The Congress is attempting to wrest power from the (AINRC) led front and has focused its campaign on the issues of local autonomy and administrative conflict.

AINRC chief and Chief Minister N Rangaswami reached the polling booth on a motorcycle to exercise his franchise. Puducherry Home Minister A Namasivayam and Congress leader V Narayanasamy were among the early voters. In this election, 9.50 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ (India) alliance. Voters were seen enthusiastically standing in queues since morning outside polling stations in Puducherry and its Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions to exercise their franchise.

In the Union Territory, voting is going on for 23 assembly constituencies of Puducherry, five constituencies of Karaikal and one assembly seat each of Mahe and Yanam. Of the total 9.50 lakh voters, the number of women (5.03 lakh) is more than that of male voters (4.46 lakh). According to officials, there are 1,099 polling stations in the Union Territory. Of these, 209 have been marked as sensitive polling stations and a total of 294 candidates are in the fray.

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