DATE=9/5/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA ELECTION (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-253483
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Polls have closed in the first phase of voting
in India's staggered general election. Authorities
say five-people were killed and dozens injured in
incidents of scattered violence across the country.
Correspondent Jim Teeple reports from New Delhi, there
will be four-more days of voting during the next
month, so one-million police and soldiers can provide
adequate election security.
Text: Turnout was low across India Sunday, but -- by
the time voting ends, October third -- 605 million
Indians will have had the opportunity to vote. More
than 160 million were eligible to vote Sunday to fill
145 seats in India's 543-seat lower house of
parliament.
With scattered reports of violence between rival
campaign workers reported across the country, security
was tight at polling stations. New Delhi poll
watcher Kailash Rekhi says there were no problems at
her location, in the Jorburgh housing colony.
// REKHI ACTUALITY //
Good turnout and no violence, a good turnout and no
violence - no chaos.
// END ACTUALITY //
Polling stations in Srinigar -- the summer capital of
India's Jammu and Kashmir state -- were deserted
except for election and security officials, as most
voters apparently heeded a call to boycott the vote
made by a coalition of separatist political parties.
Elsewhere, all eyes were on the southern constituency,
Bellary, in India's Karnataka state, where Sonia
Gandhi -- the Italian-born widow of former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi -- is making her first run for
office.
According to late polls, Mrs. Gandhi's Congress Party
trails the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition of
Prime Minister Atal Bbehari Vajpayee. Voter Prit
Sehgar says she voted for the Congress Party because
she is disturbed by the Hindu nationalism of the
Bharitiya Janata Party.
// SEGHAR ACTUALITY //
Not that they (Congress) are very good or anything but
I find that they are more secular and perhaps they
would have more talent in their government.
// END ACTUALITY //
Although Sonia Gandhi's Italian birth is a major issue
in the campaign, polls show the top issue for Indian
voters is their desire to maintain a stable
government. Voter V-K Chopra says he cast his
ballot for Atal Behari Vajpayee and his Bharitiya
Janata Party because the prime minister is an
established leader who can provide India with
stability.
// CHOPRA ACTUALITY //
Because he is a mass leader, he is a trusted leader
whose performance has been proved before the people.
// END ACTUALITY //
Mr. Vajpayee -- who is riding a wave of personal
popularity following his handling of the 11-week
Kashmir crisis, earlier this year -- is expected to
lead his coalition to victory in October. Recent
polls show the B-J-P-led coalition winning more than
300 of the 543 seats in India's lower house -- well
above the necessary 272 seats necessary to form a
majority. (Signed)
neb/jlt / wd
05-Sep-1999 11:00 AM LOC (05-Sep-1999 1500 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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