No repolling for Phase-I polls in UP

Lucknow, Apr 8 (UNI) The Election Commission today said no recommendation has been made by anyone for repolling in booths where polling was held yesterday in the Phase I election to the 62 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh.

It is for the first time in the history of the UP elections when no repolling has been ordered.

State Additional CEO Devesh Chaturvedi here said after checking the diary of the presiding officers of the polling booths, it was found no recommendation has been made for repolling. The central observers have also not made any recommendations so far, he added.

According to the facts available, the voting percentage in Phase-I polling was an average of 46.29 in the 62 assembly constituencies.

Etah assembly constituency recorded the highest of 69.63 per cent voting, while Agra (west) was the lowest at 30.50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the EC said UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has submitted his reply on the notice served by the Commission on Thursday last over the reported speech at Lalitpur on March 30.

Mr Chaturvedi said, the CM has sent his report directly to the commission and a copy of which was given to the CEO.

In a new directive, the EC has decided to permit the star campaigners of the recognised political parties to use party flags on their vehicles, while a state wide permission will be given on use of a particular vehicle duringtheir campaign.

Now the expenditure of video publicity vans used by the political parties will be included in the poll expense of the respective candidates in the constituency where the van goes for publicity.

UNI