Campaigning for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh civic body elections ended on Monday evening for districts where polling would be held on Wednesday. Polling in 24 districts, including for mayoral posts, would be held from 7 am to 5 pm amid tight security in phase one of the elections. The remaining phases would be held on 26 and 29 November, and the counting of votes for all the phases would be held on 1 December. Results would be declared on the same day. State Election Commissioner SK Agarwal said that adequate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the first phase of the polls. He also held a video-conference with district officials. The districts going to polls in the first phase are Shamli, Meerut, Hapur, Bijnore, Badaun, Hathras, Kasganj, Agra, Kanpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Hardoi, Amethi, Faizabad, Gonda, Basti, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ghazipur and Sonebhadra. [caption id=“attachment_3998237” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. PTI[/caption] In phase one, polling would be held for five municipal corporations, 71 nagar palika parishads and 154 nagar panchayats. In total, 230 local bodies will go to polls in the first phase, which includes 4,095 wards. There are 1.09 crore voters in this phase who will exercise their franchise at 11,679 booths. In the first phase, 56 candidates are in the fray for five mayor seats, 901 for the chairperson’s post in the 71 nagar palikas and 3,856 nominees for the 1,819 nagar palika wards. The civic polls in Uttar Pradesh will be a key test for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as they would indicate whether the priest-turned-politician has been able to ensure that the BJP continues to maintain its popularity level. Earlier this year, riding on the Hindutva wave, the party had secured a three-fourths majority in the state assemble paving way for 45-year-old saffron-clad Adityanath to become the chief minister. The civic polls are being seen as a major challenge for the Hindutva leader as the outcome would reveal the mood of the voters ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, political observers say. The BJP’s victory in these polls would be seen as a stamp of approval for the Adityanath government. In 2012, the BJP had swept these polls, winning 10 of the 12 mayoral posts. Lucknow mayor Dinesh Sharma is now a deputy chief minister of the state. As many as 652 urban local bodies across the state are going to polls, the highest number so far. Adityanath had earlier expressed happiness that Ayodhya and Mathura-Vrindavan municipal corporations, constituted by his government, were going to polls for the first time. On 9 May, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet had given its approval constitution of two new municipal corporations for Ayodhya and Mathura-Vrindavan. The idea behind the decision was to provide better amenities to pilgrims. The Ayodhya Municipal Corporation will cover the twin cities of Faizabad and Ayodhya, while Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation will look after the civic needs in the two pilgrim towns. With inputs from agencies
Uttar Pradesh civic polls updates: Claims of 'rigged' EVMs, bogus voting overshadow election as polling nears end
Campaigning for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh civic body elections ended on Monday evening for districts where polling would be held on Wednesday.
 "Uttar Pradesh civic polls updates: Claims of 'rigged' EVMs, bogus voting overshadow election as polling nears end")
55% turnout recorded as 1st phase of UP civic polls ends
The polling for the first phase of civic polls in 24 districts of Uttar Pradesh concluded with 55 percent of voters exercising their franchise. The polling was held for five municipal corporations, 71 nagar palika parishads and 154 nagar panchayats.
Is temple still fulcrum for vote in Ram’s Ayodhya?
Yes, if you take a closer look at BJP’s campaign in area. Even though the local body elections are being fought on ‘development agenda’ — with a first ever full-fledged manifesto released by the party — the BJP’s promise to ensure over all cultural, and mythological development of Ayodhya makes Ram temple the fulcrum of the campaign anyway, according to The Times of India.
In Pratapgarh, local body election nominee’s brother shot at, injured
Unidentified persons shot at and injured brother of an independent nominee in fray for the local body elections in the Antu Khas area in Pratapgarh.
He was rushed to the district hospital from where he was referred to Allahabad, Police said. A case has been registered against unidentified persons.
In Gorakhpur, Police detains five women, who were paid to cast bogus votes
Gorakhpur police detained five women who were allegedly paid to cast bogus votes in the Nagar Nigam elections. The women told reporters that they were asked to caste vote by a person named Anup, who is still at large. The police is investigating the matter further and has refused to comment at the moment.
Samajwadi party alleges EVMs tampered to favour BJP
Amid reports of EVM snags being reported from several booths, the Samajwadi Party retweeted a news report claiming that at several places, no matter which button was pressed, LEDs against BJP flashed. The reports surfaced from Dhawai Nagar, Meerut, Kanpur etc. However,additional state election commissioner claimed that such reports were false.
UP निकाय चुनाव Breaking: 'बटन कोई भी दबाओं वोट बीजेपी को ही जा रहा है', ... https://t.co/HlPR8t2oEf via @YouTube
— हिन्दी ख़बर | Hindi Khabar 🇮🇳 (@HindiKhabar) November 22, 2017
Why civic polls in UP are important for political parties?
- Uttar Pradesh civic body polls are being seen as a litmus test for the ruling BJP, which swooped to power in Assembly polls with a thumping majority. The party is also attaching importance to these polls as it released a manifesto for the local body elections, first time ever, and UP CM Adityanath addressed aver 30 public meetings in the state.
- The polls will also be a dipstick to gauge public mood for Congress, SP and BSP who have faced a rout in the Assembly polls.
- The BJP had won 11 out of 13 mayoral seats in 2012. It would be interesting to see if any anti-incumbency has crept in since then. The results will be declared on 1 December
Amid clashes, 40% votes cast in Agra till 2 pm
According to Amar Ujala, 40 percent votes were cast in Agra amid reports of clashes between supporters of various politicla parties. The police has, however, dismissed these as minor incidents.
Clashes reported in Gonda, Ayodhya amid claims of bogus voting
According to local media reports, BSP workers clashed with the supporters of an independent candidate in Gonda after both parties alleged that the other was getting their supporters to cast bogus votes. As the clashes grew violent, the police detained BSP candidate Mohammad Israel.
In Ayidhya’s Hanumangarhi area, a local priest Mahantdas alleged that Samajwadi Party workers were casting bogus votes, which led to violent clashes between their supporters.
Meerut: Police thrashes man for opposing son’s arrest in alleged bogus voting case
In Meerut, the police thrashed a man at Laavad chowk after they arrested his son for allegedly trying to cast bogus vote. Following this, the locals protested in the area, alleging that police was acting under pressure from the local MLA.
Meanwhile, on this day…
As voters from 24 districts cast their votes in UP civic polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wants to cut ice with ’netaji’ on his birthday today. Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has not been on good terms with Akhilesh since he ousted him from the post of party national president in January last year.
The UP civic polls, the first electoral contest after the rout in the assembly election, will serve as a dipstick on the public mood and help the main Opposition regain lost ground with its supporters. At a time like this, it is crucial for Akhilesh to send across a message that all is well within the ‘splintered’ politcal family.
Webcasting at sensitive booths
The state election commission has arranged for webcasting at 1091 booths in 324 very sensitive polling centres. In the first phase, the poll body has identified a total of 1255 sensitive polling centres where extra security arrangements were made, Amar Ujala reported.
24% polling till 12 pm in 24 districts of Uttar Pradesh civic polls: state Election Commission
Voter lists in Meerut contain names of ‘dead’ people, but not those of real voters
In Meerut’s Ward number 70, several people claimed that their names were missing from the voter’s list, even as names of many who were no longer alive, figured on the list. People claimed that most discrepancies in voters’ list were being reported from Muslim majority areas in the city.
Snag in EVM reported in Dhawai Nagar locality of Meerut; machine replaced
A BSP supporter claimed that while he voted for the party, lights against NOTA and BJP flashed. Voting was stopped after this complaint and was only resumed after the voting machine was replaced, Hindustan Times reported
Heavy security in place for polls
A district official told IANS 4,200 policemen, 1,000 home guards, eight companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies have been deployed for poll duty. — IANS
Candidates are showering voters with gifts, says survey
According to a survey by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), candidates in the Uttar Pradesh civic polls are giving all sorts of gifs like football, brass utensils, etc to voters.
A report in The Indian Express said that some mayoral nominees were found gifting voters through online portals in Jhansi.
The survey also found that out of 195 candidates, 20 have criminal cases against them.
17 percent voting in Bijnor till 12 pm
Image courtesy: Danish Mirza
BJP Ram Shankar Katheria sparks controversy
Voters from Ward 29 in Agra have alleged that Ram Shankar Katheria engaged in thuggish behaviour.
The BSP mayoral candidate has also alleged that the police have been discourteous and are trying to influence voters. Even Katheria has been accused of trying to influence voters. The candidate from this ward is a close relative of Katheria.
Watch: Prabhat Kumar, divisional commissioner Meerut, on allegations of EVMs casting votes only for BJP
Voting in Meerut
27.3 percent voting in Bahsuma, 31 percent in Phalavada, and 21.1 percent voting in Hastinapur was recorded in Meerut district till 11.30 am.
Watch: Voters in Meerut allege EVMs casting vote only for BJP
Images by Sadiq Khan/101reporters
Officials at a booth in Meerut
Additional SEC says EVM tampering allegations are false: No ruckus at ward number 89 in Meerut
Additional State Election Commissioner Ved Prakash Verma told Firstpost that allegations regarding EVM tampering are false. He said there is no such issue. Earlier, 101Reporters team had reported that voters had alleged that EVM machines are casting votes only for BJP no matter which button is pressed.
BJP MP tries to cut queue at Meerut booth: Police resorts to lathicharge
Voters created ruckus in a Meerut booth over missing names from the list. There was ruckus at Ward No 81 of Summer Garden when a BJP MP tried to cut the queue and BSP leader Yogesh Varma objected to it. Police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd and bring ruckus under control.
‘EVMs casting votes only for BJP, no matter which button is pressed’
Ruckus at ward number 89 in Meerut. Voters have alleged that EVM machines are casting votes only for BJP no matter which button is pressed.
Report by Sadiq Khan
Three people detained in Meerut for trying to forcibly enter booth
Sardhana Police detained the three people, reported Sadiq Khan.
Sakshi Maharaj’s name also missing from voters’ list
The MP said this error was part of a deep conspiracy.
Former MP Anu Tandon’s name disappears from voters list
Tandon said that she does not blame any single person for this error. Instead, she blamed the entire system for it.
Watch: People in Meerut cast their vote
Video taken by Sadiq Khan
EVM malfunctions in Gorakhpur
The EVM at Section 562 in ward number 55 at south DUJ Inter college in Gorakhpur had not been working for around one and a half hours. Till 10.10 am, not a single vote was cast there, resulting in extremely long queues. The machine was checked soon.
Kanpur: Voting started in three booths of Mani Ram Bagia Ward number 104 after technical glitches in three EVMs #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/8mqRlqgM3q
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 22, 2017
15 percent voting in Kheragarh and Jagner till now
It was reported that some candidates and agents had entered the booth with their mobile phones, following which the mobile phones were seized bu the authorities. Because of cancellation of names in new lists, some of the voters got angry. The voting is also taking place at a slow pace in some areas.
Technical glitch also reported in Agra
There was a delay in polling in booth number 606 in Agra due to malfunction in the EVM. A lot of the voters present there were angry because of the delay.
Watch: Elderly, handicapped also cast their vote in UP civic polls
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