Polling begins for seventh phase of UP assembly elections

Lucknow, May 8 (UNI) Polling for the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections bagan here this morning amid unprecedented security arrangements across 59 constituencies spread out in nine districts.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told UNI here the polling started at 0700 hrs under tight security cover in all the 59 assembly segments.

According to EC sources, preliminary teething troubles were reported from several places due to non-functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but efforts were underway to rectify the problem at the earliest.

They said during the first hour of polling around four per cent of the total 1.78 crore voters exercised their franchise in over 16000 polling booths.

A report from Gorakhpur said a number of voters reached the polling booths well before the scheduled time for the polling at 0700 hrs.

Encouraged by the violence-free polling of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in Phase-I on April 7 , Phase-II in 58 seats on April 13 , Phase-III on April 18, Phase-IV on April 23 , Phase-V on April 28 and Phase-VII on May 3, the EC has further tightened the security arrangements for last phase voting.

The International border with Nepal and inter-state borders along with Bihar and Jharkhand have been sealed and flag marches are underway in all the constituencies.

The Election Commission has identified 20 assembly constituencies as sensitive and chalked out an intensive plan whereby the electorate in all these assembly segments would be provided adequate security to ensure free and fair voting.

The Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) was being 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 by making rounds in helicopter while the 59 constituencies has been provided with 9 additional Central observer to monitor the polling Altogether 637 companies of Central forces and 73 of PAC, besides 10,000-strong state police have been deployed for free and fair polling.

Prominent candidates, whose fate will be decided in this phase of polling are: Former UP Chief Minister and Congress candidate Ram Naresh Yadav (Phulpur), UP Ministers and SP candidates Ambikar Choudhury (Copachit), Ram Govind Chouhdury (Bansdih), Narad Rai (Balia), Kameshwar Upadhaya, criminal-turned-politician Harishanker Tiwari (Chilupar), Amarmani Tripathi (Laxmipur), Mukhtar Ansari (Mau), BSP senior leader and candidate Lalji Verma (Tanda) and rebel SP MP Beni Prasad Verma (Ayodhya).

Counting of votes for all the seven phases will take place on May 11 from 0700 hrs and the new assembly will be constituted before May 13 when the term of the present assembly expires.

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