MLC polls of UP Legislative Council: 97.22% turnout, counting on Sunday

“Average polling percentage till 4 pm was 97.22 per cent. While 99.66 per cent polling was witnessed in Mirzapur-Sonbhadra, Aligarh, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sultanpur, Raebareli, Badaun too witnessed over 99 per cent polling,” a statement from the office of UP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said.

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“Polling took place between 8 am and 4 pm and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere,” the statement said, adding that some written and verbal complaints related to influencing voters were received but were sorted out by the district magistrates concerned.

At Sursa polling station in Hardoi, some BJP workers staged a dharna.

The BJP candidate from Hardoi, Raj Kumar Agarwal, said the polling staff and security personnel did not allow his agent to stay at the poll booth.

“We staged a dharna and contacted the district magistrate and poll observer. They intervened and my polling agent was allowed in the booth. I have sent a report to the Election Commission, demanding a re-poll if any anomaly is noticed in the video footage,” Agarwal said.

Of the total 35 seats where elections were to be held, candidates in seven were declared elected unopposed earlier. A total of 97 candidates were in fray for the remaining 28 seats and about one lakh voters in 57 districts were eligible to exercise their franchise.

While BJP is in fray on 21 seats, Congress has fielded candidate only in Rae Bareli. The BSP is contesting on seven constituencies.

As many as 37 independents are contesting from 20 seats. Counting of votes will be held on March 6.

In all, there were 729 polling stations and arrangement of live web casting was made at 293 sensitive booths.

A 12-member team at the CEO office monitored the election process through webcasting. At least 20 companies of CPMF, 30 of PAC and 2,187 police sub-inspectors were deployed along with constables and homeguards at the polling booths.