Nominations open for second phase Assembly polls in UP

Lucknow, Mar 17 (UNI) Nominations opened today for the April 13 second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls for 58 seats spread over 10 districts with the issue of the election notification by Governor T V Rajeswar.

Nomination papers for the second phase can be filed till March 24. Scrutiny of papers would be done on March 26 and nomination papers can be withdrawn till March 28.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here that now the election process was underway in 120 constitutencies.

The notification for the first phase of elections in 62 assembly seats of 13 districts was issued on March 13.

''We have made all arrangements for peaceful conduct of the election process while the returning officers have been duly trained to follow the EC guidelines,'' he said.

With the change of State's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police and several senior officers in the districts, EC has given clear indications that they would ensure free and fair polls.

The 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 personnel would be on duty inside the polling station.

It has allowed only five people including the candidate inside the Returning Officer (RO) room to file their nominations while only three vehicles would be permitted inside the campus.

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, most of the political parties have announced their candidates while others have not done so far for the later phases.

While the BSP has announced candidates for all the 403 seats, the BJP has announced nominees for 317 seats, SP for over 170 seats and Congress on 46 seats so far.

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