Polling on Chhanbey and Swar assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-election is being conducted began amidst tight security arrangements on Wednesday, the Election Commission officer said here.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of UP Ajay Kumar Shukla said that the polling which began at 7 am will continue till 6 pm. The counting of votes will be done on May 13, he said.
It may be noted that while by-election on Chhanbey assembly seat was necessitated due to death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rahul Kol, the by-poll on Rampur seat is being held due to disqualification of Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan, son of senior party leader Mohammad Azam Khan, after being convicted by the court.
The CEO said that total 14 candidates, including 6 on Swar seat and 8 of Chhanbey (reserved) seat are in fray. “Two women candidates each are contesting on both the seats, Polling will be held at 774 polling stations set up at 492 polling centers,” he said.
He said that total 6.62 lakh voters, including 3.51 lakh male and 3.11 lakh female, are eligible to cast their votes. “Two general observers, two expenditure observers and two police observers have been deployed by the commission to keep a watchful eye on the polling. In addition to this, 66 sector magistrates, 9 zonal magistrates and 70 micro observers have also been deployed,” he said.
A police spokesman said that tight security arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling on these two seats. “259 Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors along with 2,163 head constables and constables, 1,497 Home Guards, 8 companies of PAC and 40 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed on poll duty,” he said.
