Violence free Phase-I UP polls record low 45% voting

Lucknow, Apr 7 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh today witnessed a violence-free assembly elections in which an estimated 45 per cent of the 1.67 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of polling in 62 constituencies spread over 13 districts.

State chief electoral officer(CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said not a single incident of violence was reported from anywhere -- which was a record.

In the 2002 assembly polls, and later in 2004 Lok Sabha elections, there was large scale violence in places where polling was held in the first phase.

Admitting that the poll percentage was low in comparison to the 2002 assembly polls(53 per cent) and 2004 LS poll(52 per cent), Mr Bishnoi said EC had made elaborate arrangements for the voters to cast their ballots without any fear ''but we cannot pressurise anyone to come to the polling booth.'' Agra (West) recorded the lowest voting of 32 per cent, while Mahrauni seat in Lalitpur recorded the highest 57 per cent polling.

Bharthana and Jaswantnagar seats, where chief minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav are contesting respectively, recorded 52 per cent polling.

He said altogether 37 complaints were received during the day mostly of faulty voters' list, lack of identification norms, preventing voters to cast their votes and complaints against rival candidates.

The CEO said in the morning hours EC had received complaints of 105 faulty Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs), which were replaced immediately.

Minor clashes were reported from some places and at least 10 persons were either detained or arrested for arson and violence.

Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav blamed the EC for the low turnout claiming strictness of the commission was the main reason for the voters to stay away from booths.

The central forces stopped the convoy of state PWD minister and SP candidate from Jaswantnagar Shivpal Singh Yadav at Akbarpur in his constituency. The Minister and his supporters were later permitted to go ahead.

Reports of minor clashes have been received from Kanpur, Agra, Ferozabad and Mahoba. In Ferozabad, a gram pradhan, identified as Swami Prasad, was arrested for distributing fake ration cards to people. Ration cards are one of the several identity options given by the EC to cast vote.

In Mahoba, Central Reserve Police (CRP) used minor force to disperse a mob which had gathered outside a polling centre.

In Kanpur, several people were allegedly not allowed to vote despite possessing Election Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) as their names were not in the electoral rolls.

Similar incidents were reported from Mainpuri, Jhansi, Auriya, Etah and Agra.

A minor clash was reported from Kanpur Cantonment seat where women supporters of BJP and Congress clashed over electoral rolls, while in Miapur in Babina assembly seat of Jhansi district, a clash took place over snatching of EPICs. A clash over voters' list was also reported from Kalpi assembly seat in Jalaun district.

At least five people have been arrested so far in Kanpur and Agra for trying to disrupt the polling process. While five youths were detained in Sarsaul assembly seat in Kanpur, two were arrested at Mantola in Agra (City) assembly constituency.

Another report from Etawah said violating EC norms, state police was seen inside the polling booth, while central forces were manning the gates outside.

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UNI