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Journalism of Courage
More than 50 per cent of the 1.51 crore electorate exercised their franchise in the polling for the third phase of Assembly elections in 57 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, marking an improvement in voters’ turnout from the first two phases.
Polling passed off peacfully, Chief Electoral Officer A K Bishnoi told reporters here.
The first phase drew a turnout of about 46 per cent and the second 47 per cent.
About 20 complaints were received from different places, which pertained mainly to discrepencies in the voter’s list and identification papers, he said. Bishnoi said the EC had taken cognisance of the complaint that the names of Congress candidate Louis Khursheed and her husband and UPCC chief Salman Khursheed were found missing from the voter’s list as a result of which they could not cast their votes at Kaimganj in Farrukhabad district. The EC was looking into the matter, he added. In reply to a question, he said the Congress had demanded that the polling at the centre be scrapped and re-poll ordered.
Today’s polling would decide the fate of 861 candidates, including Uttar Pradesh CM Mulayam Singh Yadav who is contesting from Gunnaur seat in Badaun district.
Prominent among others who are in fray in the third phase are Uttar Pradesh minister for Urban Development Azam Khan, Rashtriya Parivartan Dal President D P Yadav and Louis Khursheed.
Bishnoi said an Indo-Tibet Border Police jawan was killed by a bullet fired from his own gun at Jyotiba Phule Nagar this morning. The incident was, however, not related to polling and it was being ascertained whether it was an accident or suicide.
As per the information available in the State Election Office, Bijnore recorded the highest polling of about 52 per cent. The Gunnaur seat registered 46 per cent turnout of voters. In Rampur City from where Urban Development Minister Azam Khan is constesting, 38 per cent voters exercised their franchise.
