Fearing that the state government would use local forces and state machinery to facilitate rigging, union government reportedly rushed a record number of 213 companies of Central Para-Military Forces(CPMF) to ensure free and fair by-elections for one lok Sabha and 11 Assembly seats in the state, the polling for which would he held on September 13.

Interestingly, in the last Parliament elections, around 400 companies of Central forces were used in the entire State which went to polls in six phases. However, this time, the central government made the force available as the prestige of their own Party’s is at stake in the State. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of UP, Umesh Sinha, during a press conference held few days back had admitted of demand of central forces by the BJP and even by other political parties except for Samajwadi Party, but he made it clear that the Central forces will be only deployed as was made on earlier occasion. However, he went on to say that the Commission is determined to ensure free and fair polls for which they would not just appointed micro level observers at every polling booths but would also made recording and in placed where internet facility is available, they would also go for web-casting to ensure full transparency.

Confirming about heavy deployment of CMPF here in UP, Additional Director General(law and Order), Mukul Goel said that about 213 companies of Central forces would be deployed during the by-elections in the state. According to sources in the Election Commission, all the 5,939 polling booth, including 1,929 alone in Mainpuri lok Sabha seats would be manned by Central forces. “Each booth will have 4 plus one Central forces in each booth,” sources said, besides a micro observer would be deployed in each booth with elaborate videography of the entire polling process. Interestingly, the Mainpuri Parliament seat is a matter of prestige for the SP supremo, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is leaving no stone unturned to ensure victory of his kin at any cost. Earlier, the Centre had agreed to send 70 companies of  Central Para-military forces(CPMF) but later it increased the number on the demands of several political parties particularly by the BJP. 

Meanwhile, BJP state president laxmikant Bajpai, met the Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Umesh Sinha and demanded free and fair elections.”I have demanded that the by-elections in one lok Sabha and 11 assembly seats should be held free and fairs and have expressed our apprehension about irregularities likely to be

opted by the ruling Samajwadi Party,” he told the CEO. Talking to reporters here, Bajpai said the ruling SP wasmaking all out effort to rig the polls and even some district officials are working as an agent of the ruling party. The BJP leader also thanked the Election Commission(EC) for sanctioning 213 companies of CPMF for the bypolls but also on the other hand asked them to ensure their deployment in the booths. Polling in  one Mainpuri lok Sabha and 11 assembly segments— Saharanpur(sadar),Bijnore,Thakurdwara, Noida, Nighasan,

lucknow(east), Hamirpur, Charkhanri, Sirathu, Balha and Rohania

will be held on September 13. All the assembly seats except Rohania was held by BJP while the Mainpuri lok Sabha seat was vacated by Samajwadi Party supremo

Mulayam Singh Yadav after being elected from both Mainpuri and Azamgarh seats. Apna Dal had vacated the Rohania seat after its member Anupriya Patel won the lok Sabha in alliance with BJP from Mirzapur seat.