Sixth Phase Polling begins for Assembly Election in UP

May 03: The sixth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, for the 52 seats spread over nine districts of state has begun this morning. By polls for the two Lok Sabha seats Robertsganj and Mirzapur will also be held during this phase. The security has been geared up as some of the regions are deeply infiltrated with naxalities. Among them Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Chaundali are the most vulnerable for naxal activities. The government has also called for Indian Air Force, who are on their toes, in case of emergency, in Allahabad and Varanasi.

According to an official from Election Commission, 785 candidates would be contesting and include candidates like State minister Ujjwal Raman Singh, Kesari Nath Tripathi of BJP, Sonelal Patel of Apna Dal and Rita Bahuguna Joshi, the President of All India Mahila Congress are attempting their luck in this fray.

A total of 16.3 million voters will exercise their right in 15,508 polling booths, in the nine districts. The districts are Allahabad, Varanasi, Sonebhadra, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Gazipur, Jaunpur and Kaushambi district. EC officials further said that 8,210 centers have been installed and 15,508 polling booths have been equipped with 17,800 EVMs. About 500 polling booths come under hyper sensitive zone and naxalite hit area.

Election Commission has appointed his deputy J.P.Prakash to keep a constant vigil through helicopter along with 648 companies of CPMF. Some 66,000 state police troopers have been deployed to make elections a peaceful one. “Only three percent of the total voting could be held due to this tight security,� said Chief Electoral Officer in Allahabad.