45 per cent polling in phase VI; three arrested in Gazipur

Lucknow, May 3 (UNI) An estimated 45 per cent of the voters have exercised their right to franchise for the sixth phase of elections to 52 Assembly constituencies spread over nine districts of Uttar Pradesh, which passed off peacefully under unprecedented security cover.

The three naxalite-affected districts of Sonebhadra, Chandauli and Mirzapur recorded maximum polling percentage at 46, 45.12 and 43.44 respectively.

Three people including a presiding officer and a policeman were arrested in Gazipur following violation of the election norms.

With the completion of phase-VI of polling in UP, now elections have been completed in 342 seats and a sort of records have been created for holding the longest ever polls in the country. The final and last phase of polling in 59 seats will be held on May 8.

Counting of votes for all the seven phases will be taken up on May 11.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here that the polling was peaceful and about 45 per cent of the 1.63 crore voters exercised their right to franchise.

Official poll percentage till 1100 hrs was 15.03 per cent, and 32.38 per cent till 1500 hrs.

The CEO said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, particularly in the three naxalite infested districts of Sonebhadra, Mirzapur and Chanduali.

Voting percentage for Mirzapur and Robertsganj Lok Sabha by-elections were also around 42 per cent.

Mr Bishnoi said Gopalji Pandey, presiding officer at village Nauli in Dildarnagar assembly seat in Gazipur district, and a youth were arrested when they were trying to cast vote on fake photo identity card.

In another incident in the same district, a UP police constable Pravesh Kumar Singh was arrested with a country-made pistol under Mohamadabad assembly seat.

Earlier, a presiding officer, K R Sharma, of Baragaon under Kolasla assembly seat in Varanasi district, was removed for violating norms.

The presiding officer was asking the voters to push a particular button on the Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs).

Special security arrangements were made in the naxal-affected Sonebhadra, Chandauli and Mirzapur districts with an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, along with commandos, conducting aerial surveillance.

Altogether 29 complaints were reported of non functioning of the EVMs which were replaced immediately, while 10 other complaints were received of faulty electoral rolls and Election photo identity cards.

Reports of poll boycott were received from several places. Family members of late Shehnai wizard Bismillah Khan did not participate in the democratic process in Varanasi to protest against the non-construction of a tomb for him.

In Mirzapur and Sonebhadra, villagers of several areas did not come out to vote in protest against lack of developmental works.

A report from Allahabad said the presiding officer A N Tiwari of a polling centre in Anhera village under Pratappur assembly constituency of Allahabad district died of cardiac arrest this morning.

According to EC, Chakiya in Chandauli district recorded the highest of 50 per cent polling while Allahabd (North) was the lowest with 27 per cent.

Varanasi district recorded the lowest voting of 40.39 per cent followed by Santravidasnagar -41.03, Jaunpur- 41.26, Allahabad-42.32, Mirzapur-43.44, Kaushambi-43.66, gazipur-44, Chandauli 45.12 and Sonebhadra 46 per cent.

( Eds: Pick up Suitably from earlier series) UNI