LUCKNOW: The second phase of Uttar Pradesh elections on Monday saw a turnout of approximately 63% in 55 constituencies across nine districts of Rohilkhand and west UP regions.
At the time of filing this report the recorded turnout was 64.07%, which was lower than 65.53% recorded in 2017. But the final figures are yet to come, as all the districts were still updating the numbers and would release final turnout data on Tuesday.
The voting process was peaceful, barring a few minor incidents. The Naugawan Sadat seat of Amroha district, won by late Chetan Chauhan in 2017, clocked the highest turnout of 74. 17% with the district recording a maximum 72.02% voting, a 0.32% jump in polling percentage. It was followed by Saharanpur at 69.31 %, Moradabad 64.98 %, Rampur 63.97%, Bijnor 63.09 %, Bareilly 59.84%, Sambhal 58.82% ,Baduan 58.34% and Shahjahanpur 58.13%.
Amorha constituency recorded the highest increase in polling percentage by 1.51%. It’s total polling percentage was 70.15 % which was 68.64 % in 2017. Interestingly, Naugawan Sadat, which recorded the highest polling percentage among 55 seats, saw a decline of 1.98 % this year. It recorded 74.17% in comparison to 76.15 % in 2017.
Bareilly Cantt clocks lowest 50.82% turnout
Similarly, Hasanpur recorded 73.58 % as compared to 74.23 % in 2017 and Dhanaura recorded 70.02% as compared to 70.07 % in 2017.
Chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Kumar Shukla, said, “No official complaint on discrepancies was received in the first phase of polls. ” "Polling closed at 6 pm following a one-hour extension due to Covid-19 protocols. The day passed off peacefully with minor snags in EVMs at some places. These machines were swiftly replaced,” Shukla added.
Bareilly Cantt seat recorded the lowest turnout of 50.82 % -a sharp 2.55 % dip compared to 2017. Similarly, Shahjahanpur seat, which has seen a relentless run of state finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna since 1989, recorded a low turnout of 52.63%--a sharp 5.52 % dip as compared to 2017. Bareilly constituency recorded the third lowest among all with 54 % polling.
The highest decline in polling percentage was recorded in Sambhal (6.66%), followed by Saharanpur (3.78%), Shahjahanpur (3.56 %) and Bijnor (3.42%). Meanwhile, there were reports of a poll boycott in Badaun district. Two villages Narau and Milaal Nangla villages in Shekhupur assembly constituency allegedly called for boycott polls over failure to address contaminated water supply. Badaun Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) BP Sharma told ANI that his administration had made a plan to find a solution.
"Even before this call by a few villagers, we spoke to them...For this, a plan has been chalked out that has been prepared by the municipal council. We have also spoken to the villagers that we are making full efforts by engaging higher officials from the government level to solve this problem.
The villagers claim that there have been deaths and many are battling serious ailments because their concerns have been neglected till now.
The Bilaspur constituency from where Baldev Singh Aulakh won last time recorded 68.83 % votes as compared to 67.34 %. Badaun recorded 59.89 % which was 60% last time. Mahesh Chandra Gupta won the seat in the 2017 assembly elections. A drop in polling percentage was recorded in Chandausi from where Gulab Devi won last time. Chandausi recorded 59.87 % as compared to 61.49 % in 2017. Dharam Singh Saini who is contesting on SP ticket from his traditional seat Nakur recorded a steep fall in voting percentage. Nakur recorded 72.90 % only while it was 77.41 % in 2017.
In Saharanpur, turnocat Naresh Saini-dominated seat of Behat recorded 75.78 % voting and Gangoh recorded 67.04 % which was 71.92 % in 2017. Imran Masood's brother Noman joined BSP to contest from Gangoh. Tilhar seat recorded 59.54 % which was 61.82 % in 2017. Roshan Lal Verma, who defected to SP from BJP is contesting from here.
Rampur, the bastion of Azam Khan recorded 58.80 % as compared to 56.16 % in 2017, while Suar recorded 71.53 % in comparison to 69.47 in 2017. Suar's present MLA is Abdullah, son of Azam Khan.
