The Hindu : New Delhi News : U.P. by-polls held under heavy security

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Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
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New Delhi

U.P. by-polls held under heavy security

Special Correspondent

Around 51 per cent polling in Suar Tanda, 50 per cent in Farrukhabad and 55 p.c. in Gunnaur

Presiding officer in Farrukhabad constituency removed for influencing voters
Thirty-two companies of Central Para Military Forces and 10 companies of PAC deployed

LUCKNOW: Polling in three Assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh passed off peacefully even as a presiding officer in Farrukhabad Assembly constituency was removed from polling duty for influencing the voters for a particular candidate.

By-polls were held on Friday in Gunnaur (Budaun district), Farrukhabad and Suar Tanda (Rampur district) Assembly constituencies in the State.

The by-elections had been caused by the resignation of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh from Gunnaur and the sitting MLAs, Vijay Singh and Kazim Ali Khan alias Naved Mian from Farrukhabad and Suar Tanda respectively. The last two were elected on Samajwadi Party tickets in the 2007 Assembly elections but resigned their seats to join the Bahujan Samaj Party.

While Vijay Singh was later expelled from the BSP by the Chief Minister, Mayawati, for his alleged criminal antecedents, Mr. Khan was fielded by the BSP from Suar Tanda. Mr. Singh is the Congress nominee from Farrukhabad in the by-election.

Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh and Principal Secretary, Elections, Anuj Kumar Bishnoi told newsmen that around 51 per cent polling was recorded in Suar Tanda, 50 per cent in Farrukhabad and 55 per cent in Gunnaur.

Mr. Bishnoi said the presiding officer of Linjiganj polling station Farrukhabad, Udaiveer Singh, was removed from polling duty as he was found to be guiding a lady voter.

The CEO said FIR would be lodged against the presiding officer. He said strict security had been mounted for the three by-polls and in some respects was more than the security paraphernalia during the April-May Assembly elections.

Apart from four Election Commission observers in each constituency, around 46 static or micro observers in Suar Tanda and 35 each in Farrukhabad and Gunnaur had also been appointed by the Commission. Besides, 156 static cameras in Farukhabad, 106 in Suar Tanda and 76 in Gunnaur were also positioned to keep a tab on the voting.

Thirty-two companies of Central Para Military Forces and 10 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were deployed for the free and fair conduct of the polls, Mr. Bishnoi added.

Among the three constituencies, the outcome of the by-election in Farrukhabad is being keenly anticipated primarily because of the presence of U.P. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anant Kumar alias Antu Mishra, in the poll fight. A close relative of the Chief Minister’s right hand man, Satish Chandra Mishra, the Minister was handpicked by Ms. Mayawati to contest from Farrukhabad.

His candidature was announced only after she expelled Mr. Singh from the party.

Mr. Mishra had contested and lost the Assembly polls from Sarsaul in Kanpur Dehat district.

To ensure that he won this time, around a dozen ministers led by PWD Minister, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, camped in Farrukhabad for about a fortnight.

Counting will be held on September 3.

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