Lok Sabha polls 2014: Uttar Pradesh bans victory processions, steps up security

LUCKNOW: Prohibiting victory processions in the state, the UP administration today geared up for the Lok Sabha elections results on Friday, directing police and other agencies to ensure tight security, especially for the candidates.

In a meeting chaired through video conferencing, state Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said to prevent any tension and violence disturbing the counting process, crowd should not be allowed to gather outside the counting stations and vehicle movement be restricted 100 meters from it.

Usmani has directed the officials to maintain strict vigil in their districts for 15 days after counting gets over on May 16, to prevent any tension and violence, even as he asked them to strictly prohibit any victory procession.

"Tight security for winning, especially VVIP candidates, must be ensured after counting process gets over," Usmani said.

Some of the VVIP candidates contesting from the state include BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, SP Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi among others.

He also directed them to ensure adequate arrangements of fire brigade, ambulance and drinking water, barricading at the counting stations so that any conflict between workers of political parties could be prevented.

The senior-most IAS officer of the state said adequate deployment of static and moving police and magistrate must be ensured for peaceful counting process.

"Every district headquarter should have a media officer round the clock for press briefing, and periodic announcement of trends using public announcement system should be ensured," he said.

Home Secretary Anil Gupta who was present during the meeting said, three-tier security systems must be put in place as per the directions of the Election Commission and each counting station must have a proper lighting system in case counting continues till late night.

Director General Anand Banerjee also said all the policemen should remain available on their wireless sets so that adequate directives can be issued to them on a timely basis.

UP has several high-profile Lok Sabha constituencies such as Varanasi, Amethi, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Pilibhit, Kannauj among others.