NEW DELHI: Thirty people have been killed, nine of them in bomb blasts in southem Andhra Pradesh state and about 20 others nationwide in pre poll violence since November 19. A minister in Guja rat was stabbed on November 21 night and is said to be in a critical condition Nine persons were killed in two separate bomb explosions in Cudahy district of Andhra Pradesh during the last two days.
According to police, ten persons died when some country made bombs, manufactured at a house allegedly belonging to a Congress 1 candidate contesting assembly polls, exploded.
while an unidentified body was recovered, four other bodies were suspected to have been carried away by the supporters of the Congress candidate, police said.
Three persons were killed when a bomb exploded in the house of a Telugu Desam party supporter at Daya khan appall village in the district.
An activist of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was killed and another injured by an armed gang in Bihar.
At Fatehpur three buses and ‘one truck were set on fire and many were injured in clashes between the two communities Satur day morning following the killing of Tiwari a JD supporter:
The Janata Dal leader Chandra Sekhar’s car was also stoned by a mob.
In Bhopal a police spokesman said three people were killed when a bomb was hurled on the car of a BJP leader.
PTI adds: Campaign ended on Monday for elections to 221 Parli ament and 570 assembly seats.
Prominent candidates in whose constituency’s electioneering ended include Rajiv Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, N.T. Rama Rao and N.D. Tiwari respectively.
Other leaders whose electoral fortunes are being decided on Wednesday include Janata Dal Stalwarts Chandrashekhar, Ajit Singh and Devi lal, Buta Singh, HK L. Bhagat, Mohsina Kidwal, Bhajan Lal, L K Advani, and the Bahujan Samaj Party leader kansi Ram.
With this the candidates in 15 states begin door10door canvassing for the ninth Lok Sabha elections in which 524constituencies will have a three phase polling on November 22, 24 and 26.
Polling time has been extended by one hour this year to nine hours. Polling will be completed in 12 states on Wednesday but it will’ be partial for three states.
In Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Manipur, Gujarat, Kamataka and Pondicherry and Dadra and Nagar haveli the election will be held on November 4.
In Punjab and Sikkim voting will be held on November 26,
The counting will start at 11 am on November 26. The same day at 6.30 pm the first assembly result is expected: The first Lok Sabha result is likely to be declared only on November. 27.
Elections to four Lok Sabha seats have been countermanded following deaths of candidates,
Tight security arrangements are being made in the 100odd sensitive constituencies identified in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.
Hundred thousand central security forces will be deployed all over the country to ensure peaceful conduct of the poll, polling will be held in Bhagalpur in Bihar, the scene of communal violence recently.
Special measures have been taken in districts of Andhra Pradesh where Naxalites are dominant. The Election Commission is getting daily reports on the law and order situation in all states.
Special arrangements have been made in Punjab for the security of candidates, each candidate has been provided with eight armed Gaurds. There are 228 candidates for the 13 seats in the troubled State.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 24, 1989
