Over 80 percent turnout in Puducherry

Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Puducherry saw a heavy turnout with around 80 percent of the voters exercising their franchise, said the Election Commission.

According to commission, around 80 percent of the 901,357 voters have voted till 6 p.m while there were some in the queue.

The poll percentage now has crossed the turnout level of 79.85 percent recorded in the 2009 polls.

As many as 30 candidates are in the fray in the union territory, which is also a former French colony.

"Polling was peaceful. All three in our family have voted. As there are 30 candidates, searching for the symbol to press the button in the voting machine was bit tedious," voter V.G.Gopinath told IANS.

Congress candidate V. Narayanasamy was one of the early voters in Puducherry. Later Chief Minister N.Rangasamy of the AINRC and other political leaders voted.