Kathmandu: Nearly 70 per cent of Nepal's electorate voted today to choose an assembly that will draft a new constitution to end years of turmoil and political uncertainty though balloting was hit by sporadic violence, including vandalism and explosions that injured a dozen.
The turnout for the crucial Constituent Assembly polls was higher than that of the last polls in 2008 despite a boycott called by an alliance of fringe parties led by the CPN-Maoist.
"As per preliminary estimates, nearly 70 per cent of the total 12.147 million voters cast their votes," said Election Commissioner Awadhi Prasad Yadav.
This was more than the 61.7 per cent votes cast in the previous Constituent Assembly election five years ago. In the capital, the turnout was 75 per cent, officials said.
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