UP Election: Tight security arrangement for seventh phase polls

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the alliance led by his party will emerge victorious in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and will work to safeguard the rights and honour of the people of the state. In a statement issued here, he urged people to vote in large numbers in the seventh and final phase of the election on Monday to save democracy and the Constitution.

40 companies of police forces and around two and a half thousand policemen have been deployed for the security of polling stations during the last phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, around 3,000 home guard personnel have also been deployed. 

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a high-octane election campaign in his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi for two days, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is upbeat for the last phase of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 613 candidates are in the electoral fray for the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 constituencies slated for Monday in nine districts of Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar).

The police on Sunday ordered a probe against an SHO after a video surfaced on social media in which he purportedly suggests BJP state vice-president Dayashankar Singh would be a cabinet minister in the next government. Singh is contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from the Ballia Sadar seat.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Ballia, Vijay Tripathi said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhushan Verma has been ordered to probe the video of Dubhar SHO Raj Kumar Singh, and submit a report at the earliest. 

BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said it is essential to form a strong government that takes cares of all sections of the society.
"Voting on 54 seats in nine districts of Uttar Pradesh will be held in the last phase of polling tomorrow. The neglected people facing poverty and unemployment can work to change their fate and that of the state with the power of their votes. It is necessary to form an 'iron government' of BSP to ensure the welfare and happiness of all," she said in a tweet in Hindi. "It is well known that all kinds of lucrative promises and assurances of opposition parties have not been met. Instead of taking care of the people of UP under their governments and bringing in 'good days' (achhe din) as promised, the condition (of people) is continuously deteriorating. Now, it will be wise not to fall for their words," she added.

Eight Assembly seats in Varanasi will be in the focus in the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with multiple seats witnessing close contests. The Varanasi district is witnessing a multi-cornered contest among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJ), Samajwadi Party and Congress.

As the campaign for the last phase of Assembly polls ended in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP saying it evaded real issues and that its leaders addressed the media as “last-ditch efforts”. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate dubbed the press conferences of Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda as “directionless”. She said she is thankful to the people of Uttar Pradesh and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the “courage” to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shrinate sought to know from Shah what he would like to say to Asha Singh, whose husband was killed and their daughter raped in Unnao, as the home minister had been lavishing praise on the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh in the last five years. Asha Singh is contesting the Assembly polls as a Congress candidate.

As the fiercely contested Uttar Pradesh assembly elections enter the final round, the Kashi Vishwanath temple here is witnessing a rush of political leaders. They have been making a beeline at the famous shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva since the past few days in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency and the focus of the seventh phase of the Assembly elections. Friday was a busy day for the temple as Modi, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Union minister Smriti Irani came to offer prayers. The Kashi Viswanath temple is one of the 12 'Jyotirlingas' (special shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva) in the country. The prime minister, who held a roadshow in the city on Friday to drum up support for BJP candidates, went to temple before the mega programme ended. He is understood to have performed the Shodashupchara Shiva Puja.

The results of assembly polls this week will not only decide who the next chief minister will be in the five states but will also have a bearing on the election of the President of India expected later this year. The term of President Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24, and the outcome of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa on March 10 will decide which party or alliance will have a decisive say in the presidential election. As things stand today, the BJP is comfortably placed to ensure the election of its nominee to the country’s top office, but an adverse result in Uttar Pradesh could alter the number game, bringing into play the fence sitters – Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) which control a sizeable chunk of votes that could swing the election either way. Among states, the value of an Uttar Pradesh MLA’s vote is the highest at 208, while that of Sikkim is lowest at seven. Among the poll-going states – the value of votes of an MLA from Punjab is 116, Uttarakhand (64), Goa (20) and Manipur (18). The results of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will be important for the presidential election as the value of vote of each of the 403 MLAs of the state is the highest – 208 – given that it is the most populous state in the country. The total value of votes of the Uttar Pradesh assembly is 83,824, Punjab (13,572), Uttarakhand (4480), Goa (800) and Manipur (1080).

Voting for the seventh and final phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections covering 54 seats, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, will be held on Monday to decide the phase of 613 candidates. Polling will start at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm in Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra districts. The campaigning for the final phase ended on Saturday with the BJP and its rival parties attacking each other on a range of issues from handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, law and order, economic and security situation to farmers' stir. Polling on these 54 seats will also mark the end of the almost month-long voting process in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh that had began on February 10 after the announcement of elections in mid-January. The counting of votes will be undertaken on March 10. Of the 54 seats in this phase, 11 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and two for the Scheduled Tribes. There are 2.06 crore eligible voters.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a high-octane election campaign in his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi for two days, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is upbeat for the last phase of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 613 candidates are in the electoral fray for the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 constituencies slated for Monday in nine districts of Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar).The roadshow of PM Modi in Varanasi on Friday had pulled a massive crowd, with the BJP supporters descending on the streets of the city. PM Modi on Saturday addressed a large number of voters in Varanasi, which is going to the polls in the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.PM Modi, who camped in Varanasi for two days, visited Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station on Friday night and also interacted with shopkeepers there. On the same day, he also had a brief stopover at a tea stall in Varanasi. He also tried his hand at 'damru (drum)' at Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, where he also offered prayers.In the run-up to the elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also addressed rallies in the BJP's strong turf in Varanasi. Voting will begin from 7.00 am and will continue till 6.00 pm.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Bhupesh Baghel has predicted a hung Assembly in the state. He said that the Congress would play the role of kingmaker in such a situation. "I am confident that the Congress will play a kingmaker and help in the formation of a secular government," he said. Baghel told a news channel that the performance of the Congress in the UP polls would surprise everyone. Replying to a question, the Chhattisgarh chief minister said that this was the first time since 1996 that the Congress had contested 400 seats which was a major boost for party workers. "Besides, we made other parties give up their caste and religious agenda and talk about stray cattle, women security, unemployment and development. You can see the huge crowds that have bene coming to the Congress road shows and rallies," he said.

On the backdrop of the strong agitations in the Northeastern states to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and realignment of the alliance between the political parties, the Assembly elections in Manipur were held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Political pundits observed that the outcome of the Manipur Assembly elections would be an important ramification in Meghalaya and Nagaland, the two Northeastern states along with Tripura would go to the Assembly polls early next year. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its two estranged allies -- National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) -- fought the elections to the 60-seat Manipur Assembly separately. Over the two month-long elections campaign, the relations among the three parties worsened and each made allegations and counter allegations against one another. Headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the NPP is the dominant party of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, in which with two MLAs the BJP is the partner. The NPF with 25 MLAs is a major ally of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) led India's first all party and opposition less government in Nagaland. With 21 members Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and BJP with 12 MLAs, are the two important constituents of the UDA.

Mayank Joshi, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi who joined Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday said that Uttar Pradesh's future will be safe in former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's hands."I have joined Samajwadi Party today. Akhilesh Yadav talks about development, women's safety and youth. As a youth, I thought to stand with such a person who talks progressively. I think Uttar Pradesh's future will be safe in his hands," Mayank told news agency ANI. Mayank's joining the SP came ahead of the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. His induction was announced by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav at an election Rally in Azamgarh.

As Uttar Pradesh enters the final and the seventh phase of polling, State BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh said that after the poll results on March 10, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav will finally leave the state and will travel to London. The State BJP President in an exclusive interview with IANS said, till the sixth phase of polling, the BJP will win more than 300 seats. Akhilesh Yadav, who claims to win 400 seats, will leave Uttar Pradesh on March 10 for London and close down his party office. Asked about the SP Chief's claims that the BJP will face defeat, Singh said, "Akhilesh Yadav's comments should not be taken too seriously. He made such remarks in 2014, 2017 and in 2019 as well. Leaders like him have forged various alliances in the past and will lose their relevance during the current Assembly polls."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been attacking rival politicians, accusing them of promoting dynastic politics and ignoring the developmental agenda. However, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has refuted the charge and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too is mired in dynastic politics. Campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister has been saying that the BJP government is "necessary" for the state and the earlier governments "could not see or think beyond family". His main attack has been on Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav and his ally Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. While Akhilesh is the second generation in politics, Jayant Chaudhary is the third and Priyanka Gandhi is the fourth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family who is leading the Congress in the state. Modi targeted the P and its allies, terming them as "ghor- parivarvadi log". But in reality the BJP is not far behind in dynastic politics. Priyanka Gandhi said: "The Prime Minister has a problem with only one family, that is the Gandhi family as he knows they will not bow down but he has no problem in admitting the dynasts of the Congress." Her indication was towards Jitin Prasada, Jyotiraditya Scindia and RPN Singh who had ditched the Congress and joined the BJP. Prasada and RPN Singh are second generation in politics while Scindia is third generation in politics. Not only former Congressmen, but the BJP has its own set of dynasts who are rising in politics.

Top BJP leaders on Saturday exuded confidence that the party will retain power in four states and make impressive gains in Punjab. Addressing a joint press conference here ahead of the final phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said those hoping for any dilution in the party's mandate in the state would be disappointed and it will get a massive majority. "The BJP is set to come back with a firm majority in the states we were in the government - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur," Nadda said. Both Shah and Nadda were emphatic in rejecting the possibility of the BJP needing the support of parties outside its alliance to form a government in Uttar Pradesh. Nadda also dismissed the view that there is a close fight in the state, saying such claims are often made during the polls but the BJP ends up winning a strong majority.

Manipur recorded an average voter turnout of 78.49 per cent till 9.30 pm in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections in the state, as per the Election Commission of India.Polling across 22 constituencies started at 7 am and concluded at 4 pm today. Two districts that breached the 80 per cent voter turnout mark were Senapati which witnessed the highest voter turnout with 86.06 per cent followed by Ukhrul (81.90 per cent).Three districts witnessed above 70 per cent turnout with Thoubal (78 per cent), Jiribam (77.64 per cent) and Chandel (76.71 per cent). As per the present data, the lowest voter turnout was witnessed in the Tamenglong district with a 66.40 turnout.As many as 92 candidates, including two women, are in the fray whose electoral fate was decided in the second phase of Assembly polls.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday recalled the achievements of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state and said the Modi government has focused on the welfare of poor and underprivileged sections."PM Modi changed the country's agenda. PM Modi focused on villages, poor, underprivileged sections who were deprived of development and welfare schemes. We closed illegal slaughterhouses and established anti-Romeo squads to provide safety to women," the Chief Minister said at a press conference.He said the state is witnessing a peaceful election to the state assembly."Before 2017, there used to be violence during elections but now elections are taking place in a peaceful manner. Polling for six phases has been completed and campaigning for the seventh phase went peacefully," he said.The Chief Minister further said that Lotus will bloom again in Uttar Pradesh on March 10 and BJP will again form the government.Campaigning ended for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections on Saturday. 

The campaign for the seventh and final phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls concluded on Saturday marking an end to the rallies and roadshows in the battle for the electorally crucial state. All the political parties campaigned hard in the last phase to bolster their performance. The polling on Monday will decide the fate of 613 candidates on 54 assembly seats in nine districts of the state. Polling in this phase will also be held in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Prime Minister held a massive roadshow in Varanasi on Friday, interacted with people from various backgrounds at "prabudh sammelan" and addressed a rally on Saturday. The polling will commence at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm in the districts of Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra. The key constituencies in this phase include Azamgarh, Mau, Zahoorabad, Mohammadabad, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt and Gyanpur.