45 pc polling in Uttar Pradesh phase VI polls

Lucknow, May 3: An estimated 45 per cent of the voters have exercised their 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.

State additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Devesh Chaturvedi told sources 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 additional 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 43 per cent.

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 Army commandos, conducting aerial surveillance.

According to EC sources, some minor complaints were reported from several places due to non functioning of the EVMs the faulty machines were replaced immediately.

A report from Varanasi said, 37 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1630 hrs.

Encouraged by the violence-free polling in Phase-I of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on April 7, Phase-II in 58 seats on April 13 , Phase-III on April 18, Phase IV on April 23 and Phase V on April 28, the EC had further tightened security arrangements for the Phase-VI voting.

Meanwhile, reports of poll boycott were received from several places. Family members of Bharat Ratna late Bismillah Khan did not participate in the democratic process in Varanasi to protest against the non-construction of a tomb for the late Shehnai maestro.

In Mirzapur, 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.

Inter-state borders with Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were sealed off and flag marches undertaken in all the constituencies.

The Commission had identified 16 assembly constituencies as sensitive and chalked out an elaborate plan whereby the electors would be provided adequate security cover for free and fair polling.

The Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) was also deployed in all the polling booths and sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

Deputy Election Commissioner J P Prakash has been appointed by the EC to keep a constant vigil in the sensitive areas while the 52 constituencies has been provided with nine additional central observers to monitor the polling.

Altogether 648 companies of CPMF along with 66,000 state police have been deployed for peaceful polling.

UNI