Polling disrupted by an hour over clash

LUCKNOW: Polling in Sopari Bazar village in Deoria district was disrupted for over an hour today after workers of two political parties clashed with each other alleging booth capturing by a ruling BSP MLA, sources said.

According to the sources, soon after the polling started, BSP MLA from Gauri Bazar Pramod Singh reached the booth numbers 119 and 120 at Sopari Bazar village under Betalpur block and accused the supporters of opposition parties for casting bogus votes.

On the MLA's directives supporters of other parties, including BJP, were removed from the polling stations, sources said.

While the supporters were directed to leave the centre, Singh took charge of the polling centre, they said.

Agitated over the incident, workers of BJP and other parties and villagers raised objection and boycotted the poll, disrupting the process for more than an hour.

Later, the district administration officials reached the spot and directed the MLA to leave the polling centre immediately.

The polling resumed only after the MLA left, sources said. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made in the village and senior officials were camping in the area.