51 per cent turnout in fourth and last phase of three-tier polls
Amid stray incidents, nearly 51 per cent votes were polled in the fourth and last phase of three-tier urban local body elections in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
State Election Commissioner S. K. Agarwal said over 50 per cent votes were polled in Ghaziabad, Bijnore, Pilibhit, Mathura, Kanshi Ram Nagar, Jhansi, Mahoba, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Sitapur, Bahraich, Ambedkar Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Kushinagar, Ghazipur and Sonbhadra.
He said while the maximum 64.66 per cent votes were polled in Ambedkar Nagar, the lowest voting percentage of 44.38 was recorded in Ghaziabad.
Counting will be held on July 7. In this phase, 1,843 candidates are in the fray for the posts of mayor and chairmen of 136 local bodies and 13,608 candidates for the posts of corporator.
Polling officer held
Mr. Agarwal said that in Ward No. 21 of Ganjdundwara Nagar Palika Parishad in Kanshi Ram Nagar, second polling officer Sunita Rani was arrested on charges of helping a candidate.
He said that in Ward No. 10 of Jhansi Nagar Nigam, anti-social elements damaged four electronic voting machines.
Repolling at both the booths would be held on July 6.
Mr. Agarwal said polling was disrupted for an hour at booth No. 20 and 22 of Ward No. 2 and booth No. 454 of Ward No. 25 of Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation due to defect in EVMs.
I-G (Law and Order) B. P. Singh said supporters of candidates indulged in brick-batting in the Loni area of Ghaziabad and damaged five vehicles. The police used force to control the situation, he said.
Mr. Singh said in Sahibabad an independent candidate allegedly tried to tamper with an EVM and his supporters attempted to block road after which the police used force. - PTI
