Lucknow, February 23: Voting began at 7 am today amid tight security arrangements in 59 seats in nine districts of the fourth phase in the elections to the 18th Legislative Assembly in Uttar Pradesh. Voting will continue till 7 pm. A total of 624 candidates, including 91 women candidates, are in the fray in the fourth phase. Around 2.13 crore voters will decide the fate of all these candidates today.
Tight security arrangements have been made for fair and peaceful polling. A large number of paramilitary forces have been deployed at sensitive places besides polling booths. Direct monitoring will be done through webcasting on 50 percent of the booths.
Apart from this, video cameras have been arranged in the areas where there is a problem of internet connectivity. Of the total 59 seats in this phase, 16 are reserved for scheduled castes.
1712 sector and 210 zonal magistrates posted
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ajay Kumar Shukla said that 57 general observers, nine police observers and 18 expenditure observers have also been deployed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to keep a watchful eye on the fourth phase of polling. Apart from this, 1712 Sector Magistrates, 210 Zonal Magistrates, 105 Static Magistrates and 3110 Micro Observers have also been deployed. Live webcasting has been arranged at 50 percent polling places of each district for supervision of polling.
A total of 24643 polling places in the fourth phase
Shukla informed that 2.13 crore voters will exercise their franchise in the fourth phase of polling. Of these, 1.14 crore are male, 99.3 lakh female and 966 third gender voters. In this phase, 13,817 polling stations and 24,643 polling places have been made for voting. Out of these, 874 model polling stations and 142 all women workers polling places have been made. A total of 1, 15,725 polling personnel have been deployed to conduct the election process.
12 other options besides voter ID card for voting
The CEO apprised that as per the instructions of the ECI, in addition to the Voter’s Identity card, 12 other identity cards, such as Aadhar card, MNREGA job card, photo passbook issued by banks and post offices, health insurance issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labor Smart Card, Driving Licence, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension Document with photo, Service Identity Card with photo issued by Central or State Government, Public Sector Undertaking, Public Limited Companies to their employees and Government Identity Cards, Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards issued to MPs, MLAs and Legislative Council Members, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India) will be valid for identification of voters at polling places.
Polling is being done under the Covid protocols
Shukla continued by adding that in view of Covid-19 pandemic, adequate arrangements have been made for thermal scanners, hand sanitizers, gloves, face masks, face shields, PPE kits, soap, water etc. at the polling places at the time of polling.
He said that voter guides have also been distributed for the convenience of the voters. It also mentions the dos and don’ts related to Covid-19.
According to the CEO, in view of Covid-19, the maximum number of voters at the polling places has been kept up to 1250 by the Election Commission. Ramps, toilets and drinking water facilities are available at all polling places. During the voting period, all the BLOs have been instructed that they will be present at the helpdesk along with the voter list and help the coming voters. The Chief Electoral Officer has also appealed to all the voters to cast their vote by exercising their franchise.
These are the nine districts of the fourth phase
The fourth phase of polling is being held today in the assembly constituencies of Pilibhit, Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Banda and Fatehpur districts.
4th stage seats
In this phase Pilibhit, Barkheda, Puranpur (SC), Bisalpur, Palia, Nighasan, Gola Gokarnath, Srinagar (SC), Dhaurhara, Lakhimpur, Kasta (SC), Mohammadi, Maholi, Sitapur, Hargaon (SC), Laharpur, Biswan, Sevata, Mahmudabad, Sidhauli (SC), Misrikh (SC), Sawaijpur, Shahabad, Hardoi, Gopamau (SC), Sandi (SC), Bilgram-Mallanwa, Balamau (SC), Sandila, Bangarmau, Safipur (SC), Mohan (SC) SC), Unnao, Bhagwantnagar, Purva, Malihabad (SC), Bakshi Ka Talab, Sarojininagar, Lucknow West, Lucknow North, Lucknow East, Lucknow Central, Lucknow Cantonment, Mohanlalganj (SC), Bachhrawan (SC), Harchandpur, Rae Bareli, Sareni , Unchahar, Tindwari, Baberu, Naraini (SC), Banda, Jehanabad, Bindki, Fatehpur, Ayahshah, Hussainganj and Khaga (SC) are assembly seats.
Apart from this, the Deputy Speaker of the UP Vidhan Sabha Nitin Agarwal is contesting from Hardoi on a BJP ticket.
Fate of many veterans is at stake in this phase
The reputation of many veterans is at stake in the fourth phase of elections. Among them, State Law Minister Brajesh Pathak is the BJP candidate from Lucknow Cantt. Urban Development Minister Ashutosh Tandon, Rajeshwar Singh, who left his job from Enforcement Directorate and joined BJP, Abhishek Mishra and Ravidas Malhotra, who were ministers in the SP government, were also involved in various aspects of Lucknow.
