72 percent votes polled in Arunachal by-poll

Itanagar: An estimated 72 per cent electorate exercised their franchise on Saturday in the by-election to Hayuliang constituency in the remote Anjaw district, bordering China, of Arunachal Pradesh, amid a massive security blanket.

The polling, which began at 7 am, was peaceful without any incident of violence reported, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer D J Bhattacharjee said.

However, the polling percentage is likely to go high as reports from several polling booths in remote areas are yet to pour in, Bhattacharjee said.

It is for the first time in the history of the state that both the contesting candidates including district electoral officer, returning officer and the general observers deputed by the Election Commission, are all women.

A polling station, exclusively for women, and a model polling station were also set up in the constituency.

The fate of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) candidate Dasanglu Pul contesting on BJP ticket and Independent candidate Yompi Kri has been sealed in 81 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Dasanglu is the youngest wife among the three wives of former chief minister, late Kalikho Pul.

The constituency with a total electorate of 11,003 including 5,508 female voters has 81 polling stations of which three - Kibitho, Aphumna and Taflagam - are situated near the international border with China.

The highest numbers of electoroate, 955 voters, are in Hayuliang polling station while Malogam polling station has only two.

The seat fell vacant after Pul allegedly committed suicide on August 9 this year.

Counting of votes would take place on November 22.