Stage set for first phase of UP Assembly polls

Polling for the first phase of the high voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 55 seats in 10 districts would be held on Wednesday.

More than 1.70 lakh electorate would seal the fate of 862 candidates in the polling to be held in Sitapur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Basti amidst tight security.

Stakes are high for ruling BSP, Congress, SP and the BJP in the no holds barred fight for the 403 assembly seats.

Congress and BJP had announced not to support any political parties or group in view of the possibility of a hung assembly while the SP and BSP were confident of being in the race to grab the power.

More than 2 lakh policemen, including 780 companies of Central forces, have been deployed for this phase of elections.

Additional chief electoral officer Mrityunjay Narain said that polling in 10 districts, including Sitapur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Basti would be held amidst tight security arrangements.

Narain said that in the first phase 6,855 polling stations have identified as critical and to ensure free and fair elections more than two lakh jawans, including of state police and central forces, have been deployed.

It would be a litmus test for Congress leaders including Beni Prasad Verma and National Commission for Scheduled Caste Chairman PL Punia as both of them represent the areas going to the polls.

Meanwhile, the campaigning in the areas of the state going for other phases is in progress.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav are scheduled to adress rallies in Allahabad later in the day.

Allahabad is going for polls in the third phase on the 15th of this month.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will address a rally in Karchana area of the city on Wednesday.

BSP Chief Mayawati will also address a rally in the city on Thursday.

Poll process in Goa starts

The poll of filing nominations for the 40 Assembly constituencies in Goa started on Monday.

13^th February is the last day for filing nominations.

Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held the next day.

The last date for withdrawl of candidature will be 16th February.

The polling will be held in single phase on 3rd March.