Polling for the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Arunachal Pradesh began on Thursday morning.
Allegations of booth capturing came from a polling station at Pating, a remote location in the Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh.
A video message alleged that supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to stop villagers from voting in the simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections at Pating which falls under 1-Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency and 19-Nyapin Assembly constituency.
Citizens were seen involved in heated arguments as one Bamang Togong alleged that he was not allowed to be present at the polling station as a polling agent even though he had the requisite documents. “Only BJP party members are sitting as polling agents – even for the Congress party. Our voters are not allowed to enter the polling station,” he alleged.
Long queues seen outside many booths in Itanagar
Earlier, long queues were seen outside many booths in the state capital since 7 am when polling began. A total of 7,94,162 voters, including 4,01,601 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise in 2,202 polling stations spread across the state. Eleven polling stations have been set up exclusively for women.
There are also 3,000 physically challenged voters in the state. The state has 281 vulnerable polling booths and 662 critical polling stations.
6% turnout till 9 am in Arunachal Pradesh
An estimated six percent voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday. Simultaneous polls are being held in the state to decide the fate of 181 candidates for 57 assembly seats and 12 candidates for two Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made throughout the state to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling.
Maximum security personnel have been deployed in insurgency-hit Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts.
