Eleven parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh go to polls in the state’s second phase election on Thursday. With over one lakh security personnel deployed for security, the Election Commission hopes to provide a conducive atmosphere to the voters to elect their representatives without any fear.
The second phase polling in the state will seal the fates of many senior leaders, including Maneka Gandhi of BJP in Pilibhit, Noor Bano of Congress in Moradabad, Santosh Gangwar of BJP and Praveen Aron of Congress in Bareilly, former UP minister and BSP candidate Haji Yakub Quereshi in Moradabad, former dacoit Phoolan Devi’s husband Umed Singh of BSP in Shahjahanpur, Zafar Ali Naqvi in Kheri and Rakesh Tikait of RlD in Amroha.
In all, there are 150 candidates in the fray, 17 of them females. In the second phase polling in UP, 1.85 crore voters — 10.09 lakh males and 8.4 lakh females — will seal the fates of the contestants in 18,910 polling stations.
Besides 173 companies of central para-military forces (CPMF) and 70 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), over 88,000 police personnel have been deployed along with the already available force in the districts going to polls on Thursday. Over 2,000 micro observers will also be present at the booths to oversee the fairness of polling.
Polling in all the 11 constituencies will commence at 7 am and end at 6 pm. The first phase incident-free polling in 10 constituencies on April 10 recorded a voter turnout of above 65 per cent.
Security personnel took out flag marches in the sensitive areas of the districts going to polls on Thursday to instill confidence among the voters.Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) Mukul Goel said here on Wednesday that all efforts would be made to prevent intimidation of voters.
“There is enough security force to deal with any situation and all the polling booths will be manned by armed policemen,” he said, adding that people trying to intimidate voters or rig the polls would be strictly dealt with.Addressing media persons in the state capital, Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said that all arrangements had been made to conduct polling peacefully.
Poll parties were set to reach their respective booths along with electronic voting machines (EVMs) on Wednesday evening. Almost all the polling booths will arrangements for either full videography or photography of polling, the CEO said, adding that special steps had been taken to maintain peace, particularly in the communally sensitive districts of Bareilly, Moradabad, Amroha, Budaun and lakhimpur Kheri.
The tightest security has been provided in Bareilly with the deployment of 28 companies of CPMF and 10 companies of PAC along with 520 sub-inspectors, 600 head constables and 5,800 constables besides 6,800 jawans of Home Guards.
In Shahjahanpur district, 22 companies of CPMF, 8 companies of PAC, 375 S-Is, 310 head constables and 5,000 constables have been deployed along with 5,230 home guards to assist the local police.
To conduct smooth polling in communally sensitive district of Moradabad, the government has rushed 18 companies of CPMF, 7 companies of PAC, 422 S-Is,, 495 head constables, 3,650 constables and 4,800 home guards.
In Budaun, from where Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s nephew Dharmendra Yadav is contesting the election, 20 companies of CPMF, 350 S-Is, 480 head constables and 4,750 constables along with 5,275 home guards will man the polling centres as well as routes leading to them.
In Kheri, 20 companies of reserved force, including 15 companies of CPMF, will be strengthened by 290 S-Is, 465 head constables, 3,020 constables and 3,875 home guards. Pilibhit and Rampur have been provided 19 companies of reserved force each along with over 7,000 police personal.
In Amroha, 17 companies of reserved force, including a dozen companies of CPMF, besides 200 S-Is, 255 head constables, 2,650 constables and 3,000 home guards will maintain law and order.
In Bijnor, 23 companies, including 17 of CPMF, have been deployed to maintain peace along with 335 S-Is, 425 head constables, 3,675 constables and 4,375 home guards.In Hapur, four companies of reserved force along with 75 S-Is, 115 head constables, 660 constables and 800 home guards will ensure peaceful polling. in Sambhal, 15 companies comprising of 11 CPMF and 4 PAC will help the local police along with 250 S-Is, 275 head constables, 2,450 constables and 3,000 home guards.
The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party have fielded candidates in all the 11 constituencies. The Congress has candidates in eight constituencies while its allies Rashtriya lok Dal and Mahan Dal are contesting the remaining three seats.
The BJP and the SP suffered a major setback in their campaigning when Election Commission banned BJP leader Amit Shah and SP leader Mohammad Azam Khan from addressing any rally or holding any road show for their controversial statements.
Out of the 11 constituencies going to polls on Thursday, the Samajwadi Party had won four, the Congress three, the BJP two and BSP and RlD one each in the 2009 general election.
Among the candidates in the fray in phase two, around 16 per cent or 33 candidates have criminal backgrounds while 52 are crorepatis. After over 65 per cent voter turnout in the first phase, political parties have left no stone unturned to ensure the victory of their candidates by holding series of election meetings, braving the hot weather conditions. The constituencies going to polls on Thursday include Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Amroha, Budaun, Aonla, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur (SC) and Kheri.