UP civic polls: 1.09cr people in 24 districts cast votes
What's the story
The first phase of civic polls in Uttar Pradesh is being held today across 24 districts. Voting will happen from 7am to 5pm. 1.09cr voters will choose their candidates from five possible mayors, 901 potential chairpersons for 71 nagar palikas and 3,856 nominees for 1,819 nagar palika wards. There were allegations EVMs were voting for BJP irrespective of the button pressed. Read more here.
Details
These districts are going to polls today
In the first phase, the districts of Agra, Amethi, Azamgarh, Badaun, Basti, Bijnore, Chitrakoot, Faizabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Ghazipur, Hamirpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Hathras, Jalaun, Kanpur, Kasganj, Kaushambi, Meerut, Pratapgarh, Shamli, Sonebhadra and Unnao are going to polls. The next phases would be held on November 26 and 29. Counting is on December 1.
Chaos
EVMS allegedly voting for BJP irrespective of button pressed
There was disruption in several places. Technical glitches in EVMs were reported from Kanpur, Agra and Gorakhpur. In Agra and Meerut, candidates and voters cut queues and brought in mobile phones, creating a ruckus. Meanwhile, Congress's Anu Tandon and BJP's Sakshi Maharaj's names disappeared from the voters' list. In Meerut, voters alleged EVMS were voting for BJP irrespective of which button was pressed.
Twitter Post
CM Adityanath casts his vote
आज जनपद गोरखपुर के पुराना गोरखपुर वार्ड में स्थित प्राथमिक विद्यालय पर नगर निकाय चुनाव 2017 में महापौर व पार्षद के चुनाव हेतु मतदान स्थल पर मतदान किया। pic.twitter.com/HYXLFE6f8I
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 22, 2017
BJP
These elections are a key test for the Adityanath government
These polls ahead of the 2019 elections are crucial for the BJP, which came to power in UP earlier in April. Analysts say results of these will reveal the mood of the voters and indicate if they are happy with the Yogi Adityanath government. In 2012, the saffron party had swept these polls, winning 10 out of 12 mayoral posts.