Uttar Pradesh: Voting for bypolls in 7 Assembly seats begins

According to Election Commission officials, voting commenced on a smooth note barring in few booths where technical glitches in the EVMs were reported.

In the early hours, the voters were in less numbers at the booths but is likely to pick up as the day progresses.

The polling which started at 0700 hrs will end at 1800 hrs, while all the polling booths would be manned by central forces along with state police . Results of the election would be announced after counting of votes on November 10.

The assembly constituencies going to polls are Naugan Sadat, Deoria ,Bulandshahr, Tundla, Bangarmau, Malhani and Ghatampur.

Election Commission will be webcasting polling process from 371 critical booths in 7 assembly segments.

Around 24.34 lakh voters, including 13.3 lakh male, 11.30 lakh females and 130 of third gender, will be eligible to vote at 3655 polling booths.

There are 88 candidates including nine women in the fray in these 7 seats.

Bulandshahr seat has the highest number of 18 candidates while the Ghatampur (reserved) seat has the lowest of 6.

Due to Covid protocol, there would be not more than 1,000 voters in one booth who will adhere to the norms of social distancing, wear face masks and other precautions.

To maintain law and order, there would be 301 sector magistrates, 46 zonal magistrate, 76 static magistrates along with 333 micro observers. Besides there will be 7 general and 7 expenditure observers, in this bypolls.

The EC will hold the bypolls through 5127 EVMs, 6710 balloting units and 5492 VVPAT machines.

The counting of the votes of this bypolls would be held on November 10.

Campaigning for these seven Assembly seats was slated to be a semi-final before the 2022 Assembly polls in the state was electrifying.

The BJP infused all its strength to grab all the seats while opposition in absence of their party presidents and senior leaders were giving a good fight to turn the apple cart of the ruling party.

All the 7 seats, where polling is underway ,with BJP seeing winners in most of the seats but in Malhani, Bangarmau and Deoria, opposition candidates can spring a surprise.

There is a direct contest between the BJP and the SP in all the seats but BSP and Congress candidates too are making their presence felt.

Several booths have been identified as sensitive where extra security has been made.

Except for the Malhani Assembly seat in Jaunpur district, all the remaining 6 seats were of the BJP, hence all the stake is of the ruling party in this election.