LUCKNOW: The counting of votes cast in civic elections to local bodies in the state will commence at 0800 hrs on Friday amid tight security arrangements and the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission is confident of releasing all results latest by 1900 hrs the same day.
The results would reflect on the performance of UP ministers and BJP state unit’s leadership as observers have viewed the civic elections as a litmus test for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The fate of 79,113 candidates in fray for 12,647 posts in 16 municipal corporations, 198 municipalities and 438 town areas in the counting of votes. While voting for municipal corporations was held through EVMs, traditional ballot papers were used for municipality and town areas.
Surprisingly, vote percentage increased in all but one district, Mathura. An increase of six per cent was reported in 74 districts as compared to the last civic elections that were held in 2012.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) S K Agarwal said on Thursday that all measures have been taken for smooth conduct of the counting in all the 75 districts. A total of 11,200 counting tables would be set up in the state, of which 6,000 alone would be for 16 corporations.
“This would be for the first time that the certificate of the winning candidate would be uploaded on the Commission’s website and it would be downloaded by the returning officer, signed and then handed over to the winners,” he said. “We have set a target to complete the counting process by seven hours but, at any cost, all the results would be declared by 1900 hrs,” the Commissioner said.
Mr Agarwal said also for the first time, voters would also be informed by the Commission about winners in their respective wards. “Around 15 million voters have so far registered themselves with the Commission’s website to get results.
The results will be sent to voters through SMS on their registered mobile phones,” he said.
The three-phase polling witnessed sporadic incidents of violence along with resentment among voters over faulty electoral rolls. Though no deaths were reported in 2017 civic polls in the state, 16 people were killed in poll-related violence in 2012 civic elections.
The total polling percentage in the three phase elections was 53 per cent in first phase, in which voting was held in 24 districts on November 22. In the second phase on November 26 in which voting was held in 25 districts, the polling percentage dipped to 49.3 per cent.
However, in the third and last phase on Wednesday, 26 districts went to polls and recorded a 58.65 per cent voting. Following a large number of complaints of faulty electoral rolls in almost all the 75 districts, the SEC ordered the district administrations to investigate and initiate action against officials responsible for the anomalies in voters’ lists. (AGENCIES)
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