The Hindu : National : Group clash in Firozabad not related to polling, says official

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Group clash in Firozabad not related to polling, says official

Special Correspondent

Turnout in Firozabad was 53.50% and average polling in 11 Assembly constituencies was 49.37%

— Photo: Subir Roy

BJP MP Lalji Tandon at a booth in Lucknow to vote in the by-election on Saturday. The Lucknow West seat fell vacant due to his resignation after being elected to the Lok Sabha.

LUCKNOW: Barring a group clash in the Firozabad Parliamentary constituency, polling in the Uttar Pradesh by-elections passed off peacefully on Saturday.

Elections were held in 11 Assembly constituencies and for the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat. While the voter turnout in Firozabad was 53.50 per cent, the average polling percentage in the 11 Assembly constituencies was 49.37 per cent.

A keen contest was witnessed in Firozabad where Dimple Yadav, daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh, was pitted against Congressman and actor Raj Babbar, who was earlier with the Samajwadi Party. S.P. Singh Baghel of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party was also in the fray.

Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told reporters here that the Firozabad incident was not related to polling in the constituency. The incident was reported from Pratapur village in Jasrana Assembly segment of the constituency where a clash between two groups was followed by firing from both sides, Mr. Sinha said.

A woman is reported to have died in the firing and another person injured.

Minor clashes were also reported from Rari and Hainser Bazaar Assembly constituencies, but the poll process was not disturbed.

The highest polling percentage was recorded in Lalitpur Assembly constituency where 60 per cent voters cast their votes. Lucknow West recorded the lowest turnout with 28 per cent. Saturday’s turnout was marginally better than the 27.88 per cent recorded in the 2007 Assembly polls.

The voting percentage in the other Assembly constituencies was as follows: Powayan- 59 per cent, Isauli – 52 per cent, Hainsar Bazaar – 42 %, Padrauna – 53.33%, Kol Asla – 49 %, Rari – 47.60 %, Etawah – 51.20 %, Bhartana – 58 % and Jhansi – 43 %.

Snags in EVMs

Mr. Sinha said 49 complaints relating to snags in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were received from Firozabad, which were soon redressed.

The Election Directorate here received 22 written complaints and 42 over telephone from different constituencies. Most of these related to the possibility of disturbances at the booths, intimidation, the presence of some MPs and the fear of booth capturing, the CEO said.

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