Assembly polls: Stage set for counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh

By PTI

LUCKNOW: Counting of votes polled within the essential Uttar Pradesh elections will happen on Thursday, the end result of which can resolve whether or not the BJP returns to energy for the second consecutive time period.

“Counting in all the 75 districts of the state will begin at 8 am. The postal ballots will be counted first, and then the votes polled in the EVMs will be counted,” a senior election official informed PTI.

Almost all of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP will return to energy. They have forecast a rise in Samajwadi Party’s tally however not sufficient to kind the federal government.

The exit polls have forecast double-digit numbers for the BSP and single-digit depend for the Congress.

Both the SP and BSP have dismissed the exit polls, claiming that they might win the ballot comfortably and kind their authorities within the state, which has a 403-member meeting.

If the BJP involves energy, it will be a file for a celebration getting re-elected in UP for a second time period in over three many years.

In 2017, BJP had received 312 seats by itself whereas NDA’s determine was 325. The SP had received 47, BSP 19 and the Congress had received seven seats, two lower than Apna Dal (S) at 9.

The BJP went within the polls this time with Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD social gathering whereas Akhilesh Yadav had shaped a rainbow coalition with RLD and a string of regional events, together with Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP).

Considering its bearing on the 2024 Parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath aggressively campaigned throughout the state to drum up assist for the saffron social gathering.

On Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of attempting to “steal” votes and claimed a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi, however the Election Commission clarified that the machines had been for coaching officers on counting obligation and had not been utilized in elections.

In an announcement issued late on Tuesday evening, the workplace of the Chief Electoral Officer of UP mentioned, “Rumours were spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections.”

According to the report despatched by the District Election Officer (of Varanasi), it was discovered through the investigation that these EVMs had been marked for coaching. “Training has been organised for March 9 (Wednesday),” it had mentioned.

The voting for the politically-important state was carried out in seven rounds beginning February 10.

For the opposition, Akhilesh addressed 131 rallies and roadshows to tackle the pantheon of leaders from the ruling camp.

Mayawati, whose absence on the bottom had initially triggered speculations that BSP was out of the facility race, additionally hit the streets in favour of her social gathering nominees.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who led the social gathering from the entrance in UP, attended 209 rallies and roadshows, most amongst prime leaders of assorted events, in a bid to regain misplaced floor for her social gathering within the Hindi heartland.

Sonia Gandhi nearly addressed voters in her Rae Bereli constituency whereas Rahul Gandhi addressed two rallies – one in Amethi and one other in Varanasi.

Elaborating about preparations on March 10, the election official mentioned, “Covid protocols, including the use of hand gloves, sanitisers, masks, thermal scanners and adhering to social distancing norms, will be followed at the counting centres throughout the state.”

“The votes cast through postal ballots, including those by people with disabilities and senior citizens above 80 years, will be counted manually, while the votes of the service voters — ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System) will be done online,” he mentioned.

Apart from this, VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips of 5 machines shall be counted in each meeting constituency.

The Supreme Court had on April 8, 2019 directed the Election Commission to extend random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to 5 polling cubicles per meeting section, from one, through the then Lok Sabha polls, saying it would present larger satisfaction not simply to political events however to your complete voters.

Video and static cameras have been put in in any respect the counting centres, the official mentioned, including media centres have additionally been arrange there.

“Adequate AROs (Assistant Returning Officers) have been deployed in every assembly constituency for interruption-free counting,” the senior official mentioned.

Elaborating on the safety preparations, the official mentioned a three-layer safety set-up has been made comprising of central police forces, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and the state police.

A complete of 250 firms of CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) have been offered to all of the districts and commissionerates on March 10, the police mentioned.

According to officers, a CAPF firm normally has round 70-80 personnel. Of the 250, 36 firms have been earmarked for EVM safety and 214 for sustaining legislation and order. Besides the CAPFs, 61 firms of PAC have additionally been offered to all districts, they mentioned.

Officials mentioned 625 gazetted officers of UP Police; 1,807 inspectors; 9,598 sub-inspectors, 11,627 head constables and 48,649 constables have additionally been placed on obligation.

The Model Code of Conduct got here into pressure on January 8 after the announcement of polls in Uttar Pradesh by the Election Commission.