85 per cent vote in first phase

Pondicherry, May 3 (UNI) About 85 per cent of the 45708 electorate exercised their franchise in the first phase of elections to the territorial assembly today.

Mahe, Palloor and Yanam constituencies went to polls in the first phase today and the polling was peaceful and no incidents reported from any region. In all the constituencies women outnumbered men in exercising their franchise.

Mahe constituency registered 79.97 per cent with 4143 men and 5966 women out of the total electorate of 12641, exercising their franchise, 4560 men and 6506 women out of the total electorates of 14330 cast their votes registering 77.22 per cent and Yanam registered the highest of 95.39 per cent polling with 8669 men and 9204 women out of 18737 voters exercising their franchise.

731 out of the 732 voters in an auxilary booth at the Govt Primary School, Guirempeta exercised their franchise registering 99.86 per cent polling.

One person was arrested in Mahe for impersonation.

UNI PAB VV PM ND2006