The Hindu : National : 45 more companies of forces for U.P.

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Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009
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45 more companies of forces for U.P.

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Forty-five additional companies of paramilitary forces will be made available to the Uttar Pradesh government for deployment during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the State on April 16. The additional companies will reach the State on April 1.

With 15 companies of paramilitary forces already stationed in the State, the total number of 60 companies would be meant for election duty.

The notification for the first round of elections was issued on Monday by the Election Commission (EC). Polling in the first phase will be held in 16 seats spread across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The 60 companies will also do election duty in the second phase of elections on April 23.

Eight nominations were filed on the opening day on Monday. Among those who filed their papers were Prakash Mani Tripathi of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Deoria, Sudha Rai of the Congress in Ghosi, Harikewal Prasad of the Samajwadi Party in Salempur and Afzal Ansari of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Ghazipur.

The Chief Electoral Officer of U.P, Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, told journalists here that about 2.5 crore – 1.34-crore male and 1.14-crore female — voters would exercise their franchise in the first phase. Polling will be held in 16,000 centres and 26,000 booths and 30,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the first round.

Seven national parties, one State party and 146 other recognised parties would participate in the first phase. The CEO said the EC had made available 59 free symbols.

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