Amid reports of clashes in several pockets between the BJP and the alliance supporters, Samajwadi Party candidates from Rampur and Badaun have alleged irregularities on the part of the authorities which was obstructing free and fair polls in the third phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.
SP candidate from Badaun Dharmendra Yadav alleged that UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who is present in the constituency, was misusing his power to influence the voting in favour of his daughter and BJP candidate Dr Sangmitra Maurya.
“I have informed the EC and the district authorities to immediately look into the matter but till now there is no response from their side,” he said. But authorities said that they have raided the residence of the BJP candidate but did not find the minister.
A report from Rampur said that SP candidate from Rampur, Mohammad Azam Khan threatened to sit on a ‘dharna’ if the voters, who are supporting the alliance, were prevented from casting their votes. He also alleged that 300 EVMs have been made ineffective so that the BJP candidate gets advantage in the elections.
Azam’s son Abdullah Azam Khan too said,”There are reports that 300 EVMs are not working in Rampur and people are facing problems while voting.We request Election Commission to take note of this.”
On the other hand BJP candidate from Rampur Jaya Prada alleged that SP candidate was making wild charges as they have sensed their defeat. ” Voters of Rampur would not support a person who do not respect a woman,” she said.
However, EC and Rampur authorities have contradicted the charges made by the SP candidate. DM Rampur Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, denying the charges said, “There is no problem anywhere, SP allegation that 300 EVMs not working are all rumours. Initially some EVMs and VVPATs had operational issues but everything was sorted quickly, voting underway smoothly.”
A report from Sambhal said that clash broke out between the BJP and alliance supporters at Varshney college booth in Bahjoi area in which couple of people were injured.Police had to intervene and they resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the fighting mob.Meanwhile, voters of Bharadwajpura village under Jaswantnagar assembly segment of Ferozabad boycotted the elections due to non development and cleaning of their village. Authorites had to intervene in Etah and Moradabad constituencies when they changed the presiding officer for forcing the voters to cast vote in favour of a particular candidate.
In Etah, booth number 88 presiding officer Yogesh Kumar was removed on the objection by the BJP workers while in Bilgram booth in Moradabad, a presiding officer Mohammad Juber was removed on the same charges of intimidating the voters. However, stringent checking of the identity of he burka clad women during voting has also irked the people in some booths leading to objection by political parties. In the first two phases, BJP candidates have alleged that burka clad voters are casting fake votes.
Meanwhile, senior leaders were among the first to cast their votes in several booths. In Saifai, under Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav along with his son and SP candidate Akshay Yadav were among the first 10 voters to cast their votes at the model polling booth. A presiding officer in Faridpur area of Aonla Lok Sabha seat died due to heart attack just before the start of the polling.
Till 0900 hrs, the average polling was around 10.24 per cent in 10 Lok Sabha seat with Badaun seat polling the highest of 11.30 per cent and the lowest was recorded at Ferozabad of 8.68 per cent. (UNI)
