72 pc votes cast in Arunachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and two other Congress candidates have been elected unopposed from the three seats in Tawang district.

“Around 72 per cent turnout was recorded, but it may go up,” Chief Electoral Officer Yeshi Tsering said.

The percentage in the 2004 assembly elections was 67.83.
There were reports of disturbances and damage to EVMs from 23 polling stations in nine constituencies, he said.

Prominent candidates whose fate were sealed in EVMs were former chief minister Gegong Apang, who was elected seven times consecutively from Tuting-Vinkiong; Kameng Dolo, who is trying his luck for the eighth time from Chayangtajo; former Union minister Omak Apang from Pasighat West and debutant Pomaya Mithi, wife of Rajya Sabha MP and former chief minister Mukut Mithi from Roing. All of them are from Congress.

There were 151 candidates in the fray including 57 of the ruling Congress, 36 of the NCP, 26 of Trinamool Congress, and 18 of BJP. There are also 11 candidates from the Peoples Party of Arunachal, a regional party and three independents.