59 pc turn out in 5th phase UP polls
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
Lucknow, February 23 2012:
Over 59 per cent turnout was today recorded in the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections for 49 seats spread over 13 districts, including strong-holds of Mulayam Singh Yadav family and former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.
Election Commission officials in Lucknow and Delhi said 59.2 per cent of the 1.56 crore electorate cast its franchise.
In the 2007 assembly elections, a total 47.57 per cent votes were cast in these districts.
In today's phase, the fate of 829 candidates, including that of Leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly Shivpal Singh Yadav, BJP leader Uma Bharati and former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh would be decided.
Voters boycotted polls at seven polling stations in Kanpur Nagar, Lalitpur, Etawah and Hamirpur districts over issues of lack of development and minor scuffles between election officials and voters, said Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi in Delhi.
"Polling in the 5th phase of UP elections remained peaceful, without any complaint or interruption, as no major incident of violence took place," he said.
Zutshi said, "There has been a 24 per cent increase in voter turnout this time in the districts that went to polls today, as compared to the 2007 assembly elections" .
He said there could be a case for repoll after scrutiny in one polling station in Jaswant Nagar assembly constituency in Etawah district, as polling officials did not erase the data for mock poll.
The Kanpur Cantt seat area saw some tension as the local Congress candidate alleged that 75 per cent of voters'names were missing from the voter list despite their having voter-ID cards, according to the polls officials.
Angry voters there created a ruckus but heavy police presence prevented the situation from worsening, they said.
They said the problem arose due to a minor error in the list which was changed after delimitation and the issue was resolved.
Another part of Cantt seat also witnessed similar confusion in the voters' list and slogan-shouting by rival party supporters.
Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told reporters in Lucknow that highest voter turnout of 70.58 per cent was recorded in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand region, followed by 62.25 in Ramabai Nagar and 61.57 per cent in Firozabad.
Among other districts Kanpur recorded 54.6 per cent, Auraiya 59, Etah 60.25, Etawah 59, Mainpuri 57.25, Jhansi 60.38, Hamirpur 57, Mahoba 57, Kanshiram Nagar 60.04 and Jalaun 60 .
Sinha said that as compared to 2007 elections 24.44 per cent higher voting was recorded in this phase.
The CEO said that polling was held at 17267 polling stations.
While 2104 stations were identified as sensitive, 2256 were marked as hyper sensitive.
To check any irregularity at polling stations, 981 video cameras and 2100 digital cameras were installed, he said.
In this phase, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Shivpal Singh was a candidate seeking re-election from Jaswantnagar seat in Etawah district.
Fate of firebrand leader Uma Bharati, who has made her debut in UP electoral politics, was also sealed from Charkhari seat in Mahoba district.
Charisma and political strength of former BJP stalwart and UP chief minister Kalyan Singh was on test in this phase as it included his stronghold of Etah district.
While former minister and state president of BJP's women wing Premlata Katiyar was in the fray from Kalyanpur seat in Kanpur, a minister in BSP government Jaiveer Singh contested from Karhal seat.
Among kin of political leaders, daughter of BSP state president and cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya, Sanghmitra Gautam was contesting from Aliganj seat in Etah district.
Similarly, Shikha Mishra, wife of former health minister Anant Kumar Mishra alias Antu Mishra, who resigned following the NRHM scam, was in the fray from Maharajpur seat in Kanpur district.
In last assembly elections in 2007, there were 53 seats in fifth phase of which BSP won 27, SP 14, BJP 6, Congress 4 and others 2 .
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