LUCKNOW: A population equivalent to that of Sri Lanka is set to decide the fate of 623 candidates in the first phase of 18th legislative assembly election in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
Nearly 2.28 crore voters (nearly 15% of the total registered 15.02 crore electorate), including 1.24 crore men, 1.04 crore women and 1,448 third gender, are expected to cast their votes.
Voting will begin at 7am and continue till 6pm. As many as 26,027 polling booths have been set up at 10,853 polling stations in 11 districts of western UP.
To increase the participation of women and physically-challenged voters, the Election Commission has set up 139 polling booths which will be operated by all-women staff and 61 others to be run by specially-abled staff. Total 467 model polling stations have also been set up.
Chief electoral officer of UP Ajay Kumar Shukla said, “Total 26,027 EVMs have been installed at all polling booths and sufficient reserve of EVMs and VVPAT machines has also been arranged. Over 12,000 poll personnel have been deployed for hassle-free and peaceful voting.”
“Considering Covid-19 pandemic, proper measures have been taken to prevent spread of the virus. We have increased the number of booths and ensured that no booth has more than 1,250 voters. All the officials deputed for poll duty are fully vaccinated. They will wear masks and use hand sanitizer to avoid infection,” he said.
Since the date of notification, various enforcement agencies have seized Rs 12.5 crore cash from 11 districts and 3.87 lakh litre liquor which was supposed to be distributed to influence voters.
