The State Election Commission has made changes in dates for panchayat polls in four districts in view of the one-day international match between India and South Africa at Kanpur on October 11. As a result, it issued an amended poll notification on Wednesday. Polling in the Kanpur, Kanpur (Dehat), Unnao and Fatehpur slated to be held in the second and third phase of polling on October 13 and 17 will now be held on October 15 and 18. SEC SK Agarwal said in lucknow that the state government informed the Commission that it had sought additional CMP forces for conducting the polls, a request which was declined in view of the Assembly polls in Bihar.
“The UP police will have to manage law and order and related duties for the one-day international cricket match in Kanpur on October 11 and personnel will have to be requisitioned from adjoining districts of Kanpur (Dehat), Unnao and Fatehpur. Hence, the poll dates were being revised in these four district,’’said the SEC. The polling schedule in the rest of the 74 districts will remain unaffected. The SEC had earlier issued a poll notification on September 21 and the panchayat polls in the state are to be held in four phases betweenOctober 9 and 29. The counting of votes will be taken up on November 1.