Nominations open tomorrow for 1st phase of UP polls

Lucknow, Mar 12 (UNI) Nominations open tomorrow for the first of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 62 seats of 13 districts in southern parts of the state with the issue of the election notification.

Nomination papers can be filed till March 20. The Scrutiny of papers would be done on March 21 and nomination papers can be withdrawn till March 23.

''All preparations for the smooth conduct of elections have already been completed in the districts where polls are slated in the first phase,'' state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told UNI here.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami had already reviewed the poll preparations for the first phase on Saturday and directed the officials to ensure smooth conduct of the polls at any cost.

The Election Commission (EC) had also issued several directives, including strict action against violation of model code of conduct and misuse of vehicles by the political parties.

This time, the EC has made mandatory for the voters to show their Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) during polling and no state police would be on duty inside the polling station.

Over 650 companies of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) would be deployed during the UP polls, along with the PAC and state police.

Meanwhile, except for the ruling Samajwadi Party, no political parties have yet announced their candidates for the elections. So far, the SP has only announced candidates for 37 seats out of the 62 at stake in the first phase.

However, it seems that the political parties will finalise their lists by this week.

In the first phase on April 7, a total of 1.67 crore voters, including 91.4 lakh men and 75.8 lakh women, are expected to exercise their franchise. There would be 9,246 polling booths, while 18,300 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in the first phase in 13 districts.

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