Poll process kicks off in UP; nominations begins

Lucknow, Mar 13: The seven-phase assembly elections process started in Uttar Pradesh today with the Governor issuing a notification for the first phase polls to 62 seats in 13 districts where polling would be held on April 7.

Notification for by-elections to Bilaur Lok Sabha seat was also issued along with the Assembly polls.

Nomination papers can be filed till March 20. Scrutiny of papers would be done on March 21 and nominations can be withdrawn till March 23.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 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) has also issued several directives, including strict action against violation of model code of conduct and misuse of vehicles by the political parties.

EC has also put restrictions on the number of people allowed inside the Returning Officer (RO) room by each candidate during the filing of nomination papers.

Now only five people including the candidate would be allowed to enter the RO room during filing of the nominations while only three vehicles will be allowed near the nomination centre.

This time, the EC has made mandatory for the voters to show their Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) 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. The BSP is expected to release its first list of candidates this afternoon while the Congress and BJP will do the same later this week in New Delhi.

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) will be used in the 13 districts, going under the poll process. The districts going to polls in the first phase are: Etawah, Etah, Kanpur, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Hatras, Lalitpur, Mahoba and Ayuriya.

The seats for the first phase are: Aryanagar, Madhogarh, Sisamau(SC), Bhogaon, Generalganj, Kishni(SC), Kanpur Cantonment, Karhal, Govind Nagar, Shikohabad, Kalyanpur, Jasrana, Sarsaul, Ghiror, Ghatampur, Mainpuri, Bhognipur(SC), Aliganj, Rajpur, Patiyali, Sarvankhera, Sakeet, Chaubepur, Soron, Bilhaur(SC), Kasganj, Derapur, Etah, Auraiya, Nidhauli Kalan, Ajitmal, Jalesar(SC), Lakhana, Firozabad, Etawah, Bah, Jaswantnagar, Fatehabad, Bharthana, Tundla(SC), Bidhuna, Etmadpur(SC), Hamirpur, Dayalbagh, Maudaha, Agra Cantonment, Rath, Agra East, Charkhari, Agra West(SC), Mahoba, Kheragarh, Mehroni, Fatehpur Sikri, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Babina(SC), Mauranipur(SC), Garautha, Konch(SC), Orai and Kalpi.

The second phase of elections in 58 assembly segments, mostly of western UP, would be held on April 13 for which the notification will be issued on March 17. The last date for the nomination of the second phase will end on March 24, while scrutiny will be done on March 25.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is kept March 28.

Notification for the third phase of elections in the 57 assembly seats would be issued on March 23 and the last date for submitting the nominations is March 30. The date of scrutiny is April 2, while April 4 is the last day for withdrawing the nominations.

Poll process for the fourth phase of elections for the 57 assembly seats would start on March 28 and will continue till April 4. The scrutiny of papers would be done on the april 5, while the last date for withdrawing papers is April 7.

Poll notification for the fifth phase will be issued on April 3 for 58 assembly seats where polling would be held on April 28.

Last date for submitting the nomination papers will be April 10, while scrutiny of papers would be done on the next day. Nominations can be withdrawn till April 13.

The sixth phase of the election process in the state starts on April 5 for 52 assembly seats where polling would be held on May 3.

The Last date for submitting of the nomination ends on April 12, while the scrutiny of papers would be done on the following day. The candidates can withdraw their papers till April 16.

The seventh and the last phase of elections in 59 Assembly segments of eastern UP will start on April 13 where polling is scheduled on May 8. The candidates can submit their nominations till April 20 and their papers would be scrutinised the next day.

April 23 is the last date for withdrawal of the nominations.

Counting of votes to all the seven phases would be taken up on May 11 and the entire election process would be completed by May 13.

The tenure of the 14th assembly expires on May 14.

UNI

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