LUCKNOW: None of districts, inlcuding Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Bhadohi, saw a jump in the polling percentage.
Polling was peaceful, barring reports of violent confrontation in Azamgarh. According to reports, immediately after the end of polling hours in Azamgarh Sadar, a violent clash occurred between the supporters of former minister and Samajwadi Party candidate Durga Yadav and BJP’s Akhilesh Kumar Mishra near Sarfuddinpur polling booth in Azamgarh. Azamgarh SP Anurrag Arya said, “At Saifuddinpur booth, the supporters of two candidates engaged in confrontation. Police team has been deployed, and the situation is under control. Legal action will be taken.”
Nearly 80 EVMs and VVPATs were found malfunctioned which were replaced within time. In Ghazipur, the supporters of SP candidate Virendra Yadav clashed with police by alleging that they had replaced EVMs. On noticing that EVMs were being loaded in a private car, the supporters of Yadav started their protest. When police tried to control them, they clashed with cops after which police used mild force to disperse them.
In all, 13 constituencies (all rural) registered more than 60% voter turnout. These included Sakaldiha (61.1%) and Saiyadraja (61.2%) of Chandauli district; Ghorawal (63.2%) of Sonbhadra; Jakhanian (60.7%) of Ghazipur, Majhawan (60.2%), Chunar (60.7%) and Marihan (62.2%) of Mirzapur; and Ajagara (61.8%), Shivpura (63.4%), Sevapuri (61.7%) and Rohaniya (60.3%) from Varanasi district. The urban seats of Varanasi dominated by BJP for the past 15 years saw a drop in polling percentage. Varanasi Cantt recorded 51.3% against 55% of 2017; Varanasi North saw 56.8% which was 59% in 2017 and Varanasi South registered 59.1% voter turnout against 63.4% in 2017. Another constituency Pindra (Varanasi), won by BJP in 2017, saw a drop in polling percentage. It recorded 57.8% against 59.5% in 2017.
Meanwhile, Mau seat, which has been a stronghold of mafia-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari, recorded 57.3% voter turnout. This time Mukhtar’s son Abbas Ansari is contesting the seat on Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party ticket. Similarly, Malhani seat of Jaunpur district on which muscleman Dhanjanjay Singh is contesting on Janata Dal ticket registered 59% voter turnout only against 59.6% of 2017. In Zahurabad constituency of Ghazipur district, the voter turnout was 59% against 61.4% of 2017. SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar is locked in a keen contest here. Ghosi seat of Mau where BJP turncoat Dara Singh Chauhan is trying his luck on SP ticket, recorded 56.8% against 58.7% in 2017.
