Around 27% Voting In Five LS Seats In Assam By 11 AM

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

More than 27 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 a.m. in five Lok Sabha seats in Assam where polling is underway in the second phase of general elections on Friday.

Guwahati, Apr 26: More than 27 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 a.m. in five Lok Sabha seats in Assam where polling is underway in the second phase of general elections on Friday.

The highest turnout was recorded in the Diphu Lok Sabha seat where 30.82 per cent voters exercised their rights within the first four hours of commencing the polls.

Among five parliamentary constituencies in the state that went for the polls in the second phase, the Silchar Lok Sabha seat recorded the lowest voter turnout of 23.20 per cent till 11 a.m.

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Meanwhile, Darrang-Udalguri, Karimganj and Nagaon Lok Sabha seats recorded a voter turnout of 28.81 per cent, 29.99 per cent, and 25.29 per cent respectively.

(IANS)

Lok Sabha Polls: PM Modi To Cast Vote At Nishan Higher Secondary School In Ahmedabad Tomorrow

by Hemanta Pande

Ahmedabad, May 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will cast his vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahemdabad in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday.

Preparations for polling arrangements are underway at the school which has been designated as a polling booth.

Earlier, a 'Run for Vote' marathon was organised in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Sunday morning to create awareness among youth to cast their votes in the third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

The marathon was organised as part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) drive to promote the importance of 100 per cent voting.

Joint CEO, SVEEP, Ashok B Patel said, "Today, 'Run for Vote' marathon was organised to create awareness among youth to cast their votes on May 7 for the Lok Sabha Elections."

The Election Commission is running a voting awareness campaign to encourage people to vote more in this Lok Sabha election.
BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls swept all 26 seats on offer.

The Congress is in alliance with the AAP in Gujarat where it will contest from 24 seats while the AAP will contest in Bhavnagar and Bharuch constituencies.

Voting for 25 out of 26 seats in Gujarat is set to take place in the third phase of the ongoing general elections on May 7.

The third phase will include constituencies from Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad East, Ahmedabad West, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udaipur, Bharuch, Bardoli, Navsari, and Valsad.

However, voting will not take place in Surat as BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed last week. This decision came after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected, and other candidates withdrew from the contest. The election results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

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IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal bats for Hybrid pitches in India

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Dharamshala, May 6: The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium on Monday witnessed an unveiling of India’s first-ever hybrid pitch.

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and Paul Taylor, former England international cricketer and SIS’s International Cricket Director along with other dignitaries from HPCA were present on the occasion.

"I'm thrilled to witness the inauguration of India’s first SISGrass hybrid pitch at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This remarkable development showcases the progressive spirit that is driving Indian cricket forward. By adopting innovative solutions like the ICC-approved hybrid pitches, we aren’t just ensuring a sustainable future for the sport, but also building another avenue for growth," Dhumal said at the event.

He further said, "The HPCA's relentless commitment to advancements like introducing SISGrass Hybrid Pitches, LED Flood Lights, and the SIS Air System demonstrates their leadership in creating a world-class cricketing infrastructure. Adopting these latest innovations will ensure Indian cricket can seal its position as a global sporting powerhouse, while also setting a template for other countries to follow."

The hybrid pitch consists of polymer fibre with the natural turf inside cricket stadiums and pitches. This composition is more resilient to stresses created during play, helps to prolong the life of pitches, guarantees an even bounce, and eases pressure on busy groundskeepers. The completed installations are still predominantly natural grass, with only 5% polymer fibre used. This ensures that the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained

Taylor, SIS's International Cricket Director, said, "We extend our sincere appreciation to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for collaborating with us on this pioneering project. We are pleased to announce the successful installation and implementation of hybrid cricket pitches at the iconic Dharamshala Stadium.

"As a BCCI-approved initiative, this encourages us to set the stage for further explorations of hybrid pitches in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. We aim to expand opportunities that strengthen cricket at the grassroots level for more participation and ensure that our pitches can endure the game's rigours."

The 'Universal Machine', used in Dharamshala to install the hybrid surface, was first developed by SISGrass in 2017. It has already demonstrated its effectiveness in the UK where it was used to install SISGrass at almost every County ground in England, including internationally recognised venues like Lord’s, The KIA Oval, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.

The machine will then be moved to Mumbai and Ahmedabad to create more pitches for practice and matches. Once the first three installations are complete, the machine will remain in India and be immediately available to other grounds and facilities as projects are approved.