Polling for fourth phase in UP begins
Lucknow, Apr 23: Polling in the crucial fourth phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh began on a dull note this morning, across 57 constituencies spread over 10 districts, under unprecedented security cover.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told UNI that polling started at 0700 hrs under tight security cover in all the 57 assembly segments.
According to EC sources, several places reported problems due to non-functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but efforts were underway to rectify them.
In the first one hour of polling, around 4 per cent of the total 1.57 crore voters have exercised their franchise in 15,700 polling booths so far, sources said.
The EC has stepped up security for the Phase-IV voting, encouraged by the violence-free polling in Phase-I of the state assembly elections on April 7, Phase-II in 58 seats on April 13 and Phase-III on April 18.
Security forces are conducting flag marches while the International border with Nepal in Kheri, Balrampur, Bahraich, Sravasti and Sidharthangar have been sealed.
The paramilitary forces have been deployed in and around the polling booths and sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
Deputy Election Commissioner J P Prakash has been appointed bythe EC to keep a constant vigil in the sensitive areas through an aerial view from a helicopter while 57 constituencies have been provided with 10 additional central observers to monitor the polling.
Altogether, 657 companies of the paramilitary forces along with 60,000 state police personnel have been deployed for the fourth phase of polling.
A total of 1.57 crore voters, including 85.2 lakh male and 72.1 lakh female, are eligible to vote in 15,700 polling booths, he added.
The CEO informed that about 18,100 electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) would be used in the phase.
State principal secretary (Home) K Chandramauli said here that 10 IG and DIG level officials have been deputed in the ten districts to monitor security forces.
Prominent candidates whose fate will be decided in Phase-IV include bureaucrat-turned-politician P L Punia from Fatehpur, UP assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey (Itwa), UP minister Arvind Singh Gope (Haidergarh) and Reshma Arif, wife of the former Congress leader Arif Mohammad Khan from Bahraich.
One-day chief minister of UP Jagdambika Pal (Basti), Dr Waqar Ahmad Shah (Bahraich), who locked horns with senior Samajwadi Party leader Beni Prasad Verma, resulting into the latter declaring that he would field separate candidates, Gita Singh (Balrampur), the wife of former UP Director General of Police (DGP) Yashpal Singh and Beni Prasad's son Rakesh Verma (Masauli and Dariyabad), are also in the fray.
The fourth phase of polling will be crucial for the SP, as the influence of rebel party leader Beni Prasad Verma's mettle will be tested in districts like Barabanki and Bhariach. Mr Verma ha floated a new political outfit ' Samajwadi Kranti Dal (SKD)' just before the polls.
The caste base in the phase will consist of Kurmi in the region of Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki and Bahraich where the SP scooped the previous elections.
Due to strong Kurmi population in this phase, Apna Dal, the pre-poll alliance partner of BJP, has announced it would field candidates in more than 10 seats. Altogether 922 candidates, including 63 women, are in the fray for the fourth phase poll and criminal cases are pending against 116 contestants.
In nine constituencies of Phase-IV, there are more than four candidates facing criminal cases. These constitutuencies are Naugarh, Nighasan, Balrampur, Mehndawal, Biswan, Gainsari, Shoratgarh, Itwa and Domariaganj. In this phase, 45 candidates have declared assets of more than Rs one crore.
Of the total candidates, 255 are from national and state recognised parties, 252 from smaller parties and the other 415 are independents.
In the 2002 assembly polls, the ruling SP won a maximum 31 seats out of the 57 at stake in Phase-IV while the BJP won 14, BSP nine, Congress two and other one.
Campaigning started on a dull note for this phase, but picked up in the later stages with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her son Rahul pitching for Congress candidates while the BJP charge was led by party president Rajnath Singh, former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani along with several other leaders.
Ruling SP president and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had spearheaded the electioneering by addressing 8 to 10 election meetings daily, while BSP supremo Mayawati had made all out efforts to consolidate her position.
The districts going to poll in the phase are Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Bahriach, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Sidharthnagar and Santkabirnagar.
The constituencies are: Mohamdi(SC), Utraula, Haiderabad, Sadullah Nagar, Aila(SC), Mankapur(SC), Lakhimpur, Mujehna, Srinagar, Gonda, Nighasan, Katra Bazar, Dhaurehra, Colonelganj, Behta, Dixir(SC), Biswan, Arraiya, Mahmoodabad, Captainganj, Sidhauli (SC), Nagar East(SC), Laharpur, Basti, Sitapur, Ramnagar, Hargaon(SC), Domariaganj, Misrikh, Itwa, Machhrehta(SC), Shohratgarh, Rudauli, Naugarh, Dariyabad, Bansi, Siddhaur(SC), Khesraha, Haidergarh, Menhdawal, Masauli, Khalilabad(SC), Nawabganj, Hainsarbazar (SC), Fatehpur (SC), Ramnagar, Kaiserganj, Fakharpur, Mahsi, Nanpara, Charda(SC), Bhinga,Bahraich, Ikauna(SC),Gainsari,Tulsipur and Balrampur.
UNI
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