Twitter war and controversial temple visit heat up UP assembly by-polls
As the assembly by-election dates approach in Uttar Pradesh, a Twitter war has erupted between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BJP to woo their respective vote banks.
An estimated 58.09 % of the 2.46 crore voters in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh used their franchise in the fourth phase on Monday with sealing the fate of 130 candidates in the EVMs.
ECI officials said that polling was smooth and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.
Polling started at 7 AM and ended at 6 PM. At 9 AM the voting percentage in these 13 Lok Sabha seats was11.67, which rose to 27 12% at 11 AM, 39.68% at 1 PM , 48.41% at 3 PM and 56.35 % at 5PM.
Sources said around 58.09 % of voting have been reported till 6PM.
Polling started at a brisk note in the morning but it slowed down as the sun rose. In Lakhimpur Kheri, polling was disturbed in the morning due to heavy rains.
In several booths polling was delayed due to faulty EVMs.
Authorities had replaced 131 balloting units, 210 control units and 286 VVPAT at the start of polling and during the polling process 53 Balloting units, 53 Control units and 201 VVPAT replaced.
Reports said that minor clashes between BJP and SP supporters were witnessed in Sitapur, Kannauj, Unnao and Akbarpur constituencies.
SP President Akhilesh Yadav, who is contesting from Kannauj, visited several booths in Kannauj.
However, SP leaders have made complaint to the ECI of BJP and police had prevented voters in Kannauj, Sitapur, Kheri and Etawah from voting .
This phase election was very crucial for BJP as it had won all the 13 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj and Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni( Kheri) were among the 130 candidates whose fate would be decided in this phase.
ECI sources here said till 6 PM , Kheri polled highest 64.73% of polling followed by 64.45% in Dhaurahara, 61.91% in Sitapur, 61 % in Kannauj, 58.97% in Farrukhabad, 57.57% in Hardoi, 57.45% in Bahraich, 57.66% in Akbarpur, 55.79 in Mishrik, 56.38%in Etawah, 55.44% in Unnao, 53.24% in Shahjahanpur and lowest of 53.06% in Kanpur.
Along with 13 Lok Sabha seats, by-election of Dadraul Assembly seat in Shahjahanpur district was held where 53.31% of 3.72 lakh electorate voted till 5PM.
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