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Lucknow, Apr 7: An estimated 45 per cent of the 1.67 crore voters exercised their franchise today during the first phase of polling in 62 assembly constituencies spread over 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh, marked by a low voter turnout and minor clashes at several places.
At least 10 persons have either been detained or arrested for arson and violence.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here this evening that the polling was ''by and large peaceful''.
In the last Assembly elections in 2002, the voting percentage was 53 per cent. The low voter turnout was a matter of concern for the Election Commission and the political parties.
Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav blamed the EC for the low turnout claiming strictness of the commission was the main reason for the voters to stay away from booths.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from several places, but polling passed off peacefully, claimed EC officials here.
The central forces stopped the convoy of state PWD minister and SP candidate from Jaswantnagar Shivpal Singh Yadav at Akbarpur in his constituency.
The Minister and his supporters were later permitted to go ahead.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from Kanpur, Agra, Ferozabad and Mahoba while in some booths, polling was delayed due to snags in Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs).
In Ferozabad, a gram pradhan, identified as Swami Prasad, was arrested for distributing fake ration cards to people. Ration cards are one of the several identity options given by the EC to cast vote.
In Mahoba, Central Reserve Police (CRP) used minor force to disperse a mob which had gathered outside a polling centre.
In Kanpur, several people were allegedly not allowed to vote despite possessing Election Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) as their names were not in the electoral rolls.
Similar incidents were reported from Mainpuri, Jhansi, Auriya, Etah and Agra.
A minor clash was reported from Kanpur Cantonment seat where women supporters of BJP and Congress clashed over electoral rolls, while in Miapur in Babina assembly seat of Jhansi district, a clash took place over snatching of EPICs. A clash over voters' list was also reported from Kalpi assembly seat in Jalaun district.
At least five people have been arrested so far in Kanpur and Agra for trying to disrupt the polling process. While five youths were detained in Sarsaul assembly seat in Kanpur, two were arrested at Mantola in Agra (City) assembly constituency.
Another report from Etawah said violating EC norms, state police was seen inside the polling booth, while central forces were manning the gates outside.
Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav cast his vote at a polling booth in Etawah along with his sibling and minister Shivpal Singh, and son Akhilesh Yadav, who is an MP from Kannauj.
The second phase of polling will be held on April 13 followed by Phase-3 on April 18, Phase-4 on April 23, Phase-5 on April 28, Phase-6 on May 3 and Phase-7 on May 8. Counting of votes for all the 403 assembly seats will be taken up on May 11 while the new assembly will constituted by May 13. Former Assembly speaker Dhani Ram Verma is the SP candidate from Bidhuna.
Several Ministers and sitting MLAs of all the parties were also in the fray during the first phase. A total of 839 candidates were in the race.
Rebel SP MP Raj Babbar was trying his luck in Agra district.
Polling for the Bilhaur Lok Sabha seat by-election was also held along with the first phase. The seat fell vacant following the disqualification of the sitting member involved in a cash-for query-scam.
There were 9,300 polling booths set up for Phase 1 where 18,300 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used in 13 districts.
Agra Cantonment had the highest number of 28 candidates, while Mauranipur in Jhansi had the lowest with 4 candidates.
In 2002 assembly polls of the 62 assembly seats at stake, the ruling SP had won 24 seats, the BJP 16, the BSP 14, the Congress 4, the RLD 2 and others 2.
A rather low-key campaigning for phase I came to an end on Thursday evening with all political parties targeting each other to woo voters in their favour.
The electioneering which began on a dull note, however, picked up in the later stages.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi embarked upon her electioneering from Jhansi and Etawah, along with Rashitriya Janata Dal(RJD) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also covered several constituencies by holding road shows and small public meetings (Jan Sampark Abhiyan).
The main issues before all the political parties was to give a development-oriented, corruption free government, besides targeting the voters on caste and communal lines.
Former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh, along with several party leaders, including Mr Venkiah Naidu, Ms Sushma Swaraj and former cricketer and Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Siddhu, spearheaded the campaign for their party candidates.
But an FIR registered by the EC against the BJP and its leaders Rajnath Singh and Lalji Tandon over the controversial CD has to some extent affected the party's morale before the Phase I polls.
The ruling Samajwadi Party election campaign was led by the chief Minister, while party leader Amar Singh was accompanied by Bollywood stars and MPs Jaya Bachchan and Jaya Prada. Erstwhile Congress leader Natwar Singh has also joined the SP during electioneering.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is the lone party, striving to claim power in the state, depending on Ms Mayawati and to some extent on party general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra.
Former prime minister V P Singh, along with rebel SP MP Raj Babbar, are also in the campaign mode for the candidates of Janmorcha.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami, along with other two commissioners, had already reviewed the poll preparations for the first phase last month and directed the officials to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. An EC team had visited all the 13 districts to assess the situation regarding deployment of the Central forces.
The districts which went to polls in the first phase were: Etawah, Etah, Kanpur, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Hatras, Lalitpur, Mahoba and Ayuriya.
The seats for the first phase were: Aryanagar, Madhogarh, Sisamau(SC), Bhogaon, Generalganj, Kishni(SC), Kanpur Cantonment, Karhal, Govind Nagar, Shikohabad, Kalyanpur, Jasrana, Sarsaul, Ghiror, Ghatampur, Mainpuri, Bhognipur(SC), Aliganj, Rajpur, Patiyali, Sarvankhera, Sakeet, Chaubepur, Soron, Bilhaur(SC), Kasganj, Derapur, Etah, Auraiya, Nidhauli Kalan, Ajitmal, Jalesar(SC), Lakhana, Firozabad, Etawah, Bah, Jaswantnagar, Fatehabad, Bharthana, Tundla(SC), Bidhuna, Etmadpur(SC), Hamirpur, Dayalbagh, Maudaha, Agra Cantonment, Rath, Agra East, Charkhari, Agra West(SC), Mahoba, Kheragarh, Mehroni, Fatehpur Sikri, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Babina(SC), Mauranipur(SC), Garautha, Konch(SC), Orai and Kalpi.
UNI
At least 10 persons have either been detained or arrested for arson and violence.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here this evening that the polling was ''by and large peaceful''.
In the last Assembly elections in 2002, the voting percentage was 53 per cent. The low voter turnout was a matter of concern for the Election Commission and the political parties.
Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav blamed the EC for the low turnout claiming strictness of the commission was the main reason for the voters to stay away from booths.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from several places, but polling passed off peacefully, claimed EC officials here.
The central forces stopped the convoy of state PWD minister and SP candidate from Jaswantnagar Shivpal Singh Yadav at Akbarpur in his constituency.
The Minister and his supporters were later permitted to go ahead.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from Kanpur, Agra, Ferozabad and Mahoba while in some booths, polling was delayed due to snags in Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs).
In Ferozabad, a gram pradhan, identified as Swami Prasad, was arrested for distributing fake ration cards to people. Ration cards are one of the several identity options given by the EC to cast vote.
In Mahoba, Central Reserve Police (CRP) used minor force to disperse a mob which had gathered outside a polling centre.
In Kanpur, several people were allegedly not allowed to vote despite possessing Election Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) as their names were not in the electoral rolls.
Similar incidents were reported from Mainpuri, Jhansi, Auriya, Etah and Agra.
A minor clash was reported from Kanpur Cantonment seat where women supporters of BJP and Congress clashed over electoral rolls, while in Miapur in Babina assembly seat of Jhansi district, a clash took place over snatching of EPICs. A clash over voters' list was also reported from Kalpi assembly seat in Jalaun district.
At least five people have been arrested so far in Kanpur and Agra for trying to disrupt the polling process. While five youths were detained in Sarsaul assembly seat in Kanpur, two were arrested at Mantola in Agra (City) assembly constituency.
Another report from Etawah said violating EC norms, state police was seen inside the polling booth, while central forces were manning the gates outside.
Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav cast his vote at a polling booth in Etawah along with his sibling and minister Shivpal Singh, and son Akhilesh Yadav, who is an MP from Kannauj.
The second phase of polling will be held on April 13 followed by Phase-3 on April 18, Phase-4 on April 23, Phase-5 on April 28, Phase-6 on May 3 and Phase-7 on May 8. Counting of votes for all the 403 assembly seats will be taken up on May 11 while the new assembly will constituted by May 13. Former Assembly speaker Dhani Ram Verma is the SP candidate from Bidhuna.
Several Ministers and sitting MLAs of all the parties were also in the fray during the first phase. A total of 839 candidates were in the race.
Rebel SP MP Raj Babbar was trying his luck in Agra district.
Polling for the Bilhaur Lok Sabha seat by-election was also held along with the first phase. The seat fell vacant following the disqualification of the sitting member involved in a cash-for query-scam.
There were 9,300 polling booths set up for Phase 1 where 18,300 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used in 13 districts.
Agra Cantonment had the highest number of 28 candidates, while Mauranipur in Jhansi had the lowest with 4 candidates.
In 2002 assembly polls of the 62 assembly seats at stake, the ruling SP had won 24 seats, the BJP 16, the BSP 14, the Congress 4, the RLD 2 and others 2.
A rather low-key campaigning for phase I came to an end on Thursday evening with all political parties targeting each other to woo voters in their favour.
The electioneering which began on a dull note, however, picked up in the later stages.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi embarked upon her electioneering from Jhansi and Etawah, along with Rashitriya Janata Dal(RJD) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also covered several constituencies by holding road shows and small public meetings (Jan Sampark Abhiyan).
The main issues before all the political parties was to give a development-oriented, corruption free government, besides targeting the voters on caste and communal lines.
Former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh, along with several party leaders, including Mr Venkiah Naidu, Ms Sushma Swaraj and former cricketer and Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Siddhu, spearheaded the campaign for their party candidates.
But an FIR registered by the EC against the BJP and its leaders Rajnath Singh and Lalji Tandon over the controversial CD has to some extent affected the party's morale before the Phase I polls.
The ruling Samajwadi Party election campaign was led by the chief Minister, while party leader Amar Singh was accompanied by Bollywood stars and MPs Jaya Bachchan and Jaya Prada. Erstwhile Congress leader Natwar Singh has also joined the SP during electioneering.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is the lone party, striving to claim power in the state, depending on Ms Mayawati and to some extent on party general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra.
Former prime minister V P Singh, along with rebel SP MP Raj Babbar, are also in the campaign mode for the candidates of Janmorcha.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami, along with other two commissioners, had already reviewed the poll preparations for the first phase last month and directed the officials to ensure smooth conduct of the polls. An EC team had visited all the 13 districts to assess the situation regarding deployment of the Central forces.
The districts which went to polls in the first phase were: Etawah, Etah, Kanpur, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Hatras, Lalitpur, Mahoba and Ayuriya.
The seats for the first phase were: Aryanagar, Madhogarh, Sisamau(SC), Bhogaon, Generalganj, Kishni(SC), Kanpur Cantonment, Karhal, Govind Nagar, Shikohabad, Kalyanpur, Jasrana, Sarsaul, Ghiror, Ghatampur, Mainpuri, Bhognipur(SC), Aliganj, Rajpur, Patiyali, Sarvankhera, Sakeet, Chaubepur, Soron, Bilhaur(SC), Kasganj, Derapur, Etah, Auraiya, Nidhauli Kalan, Ajitmal, Jalesar(SC), Lakhana, Firozabad, Etawah, Bah, Jaswantnagar, Fatehabad, Bharthana, Tundla(SC), Bidhuna, Etmadpur(SC), Hamirpur, Dayalbagh, Maudaha, Agra Cantonment, Rath, Agra East, Charkhari, Agra West(SC), Mahoba, Kheragarh, Mehroni, Fatehpur Sikri, Lalitpur, Jhansi, Babina(SC), Mauranipur(SC), Garautha, Konch(SC), Orai and Kalpi.
UNI
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