PUNE: According to the district administration, the turnout in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls in Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies will not cross the turnout of last elections. Pune district administration officials said on Monday that there was 60 per cent and 59 per cent turnout in Maval and Shirur constituencies respectively. The administration has admitted that the rise in the temperature may have affected the turnout. It has denied that there was any untoward incident and claimed that polling was peaceful in both the constituencies on Monday.
District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said in press conference, “There was a rumour about a malfunction in an EVM which delayed the starting of voting. However, we are registering a First Information Report (FIR) against a person for distributing Rs 48,000 to people in Pimpri-Chinchwad. We received a complaints from an unknown person for delay in starting of polling in Vidyanagar school at Pimpri. Another complaint we received was from a village in Maval area. But after investigation, we found that it was a rumour.”
The district collector said, “ We haven’t received exact turnout figure yet. We are compiling information from both the constituencies. There was a media report on channels where a video from Shirur was shown. Although the source had not been identified, we have filed an FIR for further investigation,” he added. It was also informed that only 0.78 per cent of machines were defunct.
DROUGHT RELIEF WORK WILL START SOON
District Collector Ram said, “After Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha election, the district administration will start drought relief work in rural areas of Pune district. However, only sanctioned work will start. The government machinery was engaged in the election process. Therefore, drinking water-related work was stopped.”
“Now, we will execute drinking water-related work as early as possible. Though, the polling has been completed, the code of conduct will continue up to the counting day (May 23). No policy decision or minister’s meeting will take place during this period,” he added.
