Voting Underway for Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Elections, Ramgopal Yadav Casts His Vote in Saifai

Lucknow, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : Voting for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections is currently taking place across various districts, including Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Etawah, under strict security measures. The polls are being conducted for 11 seats in Lucknow, which comprise five seats from the graduate constituency and six from the teacher constituency. Ballots are being cast using paper, with counting scheduled for October 27.

In Varanasi, there are 81 polling centers for the graduate constituency and 21 for the teacher constituency. A total of 34,899 voters are eligible to vote in the teacher constituency, while 288,567 voters can participate in the graduate constituency. To ensure a peaceful voting process, robust security arrangements have been implemented. ACP Pragya Pathak stated, “Voting for the MLC elections is taking place today from 8 AM to 4 PM. Police forces are stationed at various polling centers, with both male and female officers deployed for security.”

In Hardoi, voting has commenced smoothly at the GIC Inter College for the Lucknow block’s teacher and graduate constituencies. The first voter to emerge from the center reported a peaceful atmosphere, with strict security maintained by the administration and police outside the polling station. Voting is being documented through videography.

Polling is also ongoing in Raebareli, where 20 polling centers have been established. A total of 61 booths are active, with 29,261 voters from the graduate category and 4,384 from the teacher category expected to cast their votes. A significant police presence has been deployed at the polling locations.

In Etawah, Professor Ramgopal Yadav, the national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party, cast his vote in the graduate elections at the Saifai block. Speaking to the media, Yadav expressed confidence in the victory of both of his party’s candidates, Akash Agarwal for the teacher constituency and the candidate for the graduate constituency.

Addressing allegations of opposition leaders being harassed, Yadav mentioned, “Yesterday, police visited a couple of places in Auraiya. However, I spoke to the Election Commission and the Superintendent of Police, after which they withdrew. There have been no reports of any disturbances from there or elsewhere.”

Regarding discrepancies in the voter lists, Yadav remarked, “I am not aware of any fraudulent entries. However, if names are incorrectly listed, it is also the responsibility of voters to verify and raise objections in a timely manner. It is not fair to place all responsibility on the officials.”