Over 33 per cent polling in UP by-elections till 1 PM

LUCKNOW: Around 33.9 per cent votes were polled in the by-elections to 11 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh till 1.00 pm today amid elaborate security arrangements.

Around 35.60 per cent votes were polled in Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat where Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his MP wife Dimple Yadav also cast their votes this morning, while 33.73 per cent votes were polled in by-polls to 11 assembly seats.

Among the assembly constituencies, Thakurdwara in Moradabad district witnessed brisk polling with 46 per cent turn out in the first six hours, but it was tardy in Noida where only 16 per cent votes were polled.

Security personnel, including those of the central forces, have been deployed in constituencies along with micro-observers to ensure free and fair elections, according to the election office.

Video recording and photography would be conducted at all the polling centres.

The Assembly seats where bypolls are being held include Saharanpur city, Bijnor, Thakurdwara, Noida, Nighasan Lucknow east, Hamirpur, Charkhari, Sirathu, Balha and Rohania.

By-elections are also taking place in Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, which was vacated by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Eleven Vidhan Sabha seats felt vacant after 10 BJP MLAs and one of its ally, Apna Dal were elected to the Lok Sabha.

Arrangement of web casting has been made at 176 sensitive poling stations.

While BSP is not contesting the bypoll, Congress and SP have fielded candidates on all 11 assembly seats, whereas BJP is contesting on 10 and its ally Apna Dal on one.

In Mainpuri, BSP and Congress have not fielded their candidates. Here the contest is between Mulayam's relative Tej Pratap Singh and BJP's Shiv Singh Shakya.