23 pc turnout in UP; CRPF man held for molestation

Lucknow, May 8: An estimated 23 per cent of the electorate had exercised its franchise till 1300 hrs today during polling for the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly election in 59 constituencies spread over nine districts.

State additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Devesh Chaturvedi told sources here polling was under way under a tight security cover in all the 59 assembly segments.

''Polling has been peaceful and no untoward incident has been reported so far...action has been taken against a CRPF personnel for allegedly outraging a girl's modesty in Maharajganj,'' he said.

Mr Chaturvedi said till 1100 hours around 14.5 per cent, votes were cast.

According to sources in the Election Commission (EC), preliminary teething troubles were reported from several places due to non-functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but they were replaced immediately.

Meanwhile, reports from various districts said that the polling which started at a slow pace in the morning picked up later on as the weather was not very hot.

A report from Maharajganj said a CRPF personnel was arrested in Paniyara assembly seat for allegedly trying to molest a girl. The villagers protesting against the incident boycotted the poll.

In Faizabad, about 15,000 voters of Madhepur panchayat of Sohalwal assembly seat boycotted the polls due to non-developmental works in the area.

Encouraged by the violence-free six phases of polling, the EC has further tightened the security arrangements for the last phase of voting.

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 state president and candidate Lalji Verma (Tanda) and rebel SP MP Beni Prasad Verma (Ayodhya).

Counting of votes polled in the 7-phase voting will take place on May 11 from 0700 hrs and the new assembly is expected to be constituted before May 13 when the term of the present assembly expires.

UNI