PANCHKULA, Feb 16: Polling at all the 286 polling booths, erected for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, was completed in a calm and peaceful manner in this segment of Ambala parliamentary constituency here today. No incidents of violence were reported from any side of the constituency. Nearly 60 per cent votes were polled reportedly in this parliamentary segment. While the maximum of 81 per cent votes were cast in Ram Nagar (Pinjore), the lowest of 11 per cent of voting was recorded at Morni, informed a senior official of the Panchkula district administration.However, polling in most of the urban areas was at its lowest ebb till noon, with very few voters turning up at the polling booths to cast their franchise. Presumably, the voters preferred to stay indoors in the morning hours.When Newsline visited the polling booth at Community Centre in Sector 15 of the township around noon, it found just eight-odd voters queued up there. Not more than 20 per cent votes have been cast till now, revealed apoll observer. The situation was no better at polling booths in other Sectors such as 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, and 19.However, the poll scenario was completely transformed after 2 O' clock, as the large number of persons started pouring in at the most of the polling booths of the township. However, the poll-related enthusiasm among the people was largely found missing at most of the polling booths. In fact, very few party workers could be spotted outside the polling centres. When asked to comment on the current poll-scene, a contractor, Satish Talwar said as the Lok Sabha polls have occurred in a quick succession this time, the overall response to this ongoing elections has been rather lackadaisical. Nevertheless, polling gained momentum towards closing hours. A fairly large number of voters could be witnessed in the queues at almost all the polling booths.
