E-Paper
33% turnout in Rampur, 56.46% in Khatauli
The fate of 24 candidates in both constituencies would be unsealed after counting on December 8; SP leaders allege district admn and police supporting BJP in polling
LUCKNOW/MEERUT Bypolls to the Rampur and Khatauli assembly constituencies went off peacefully and witnessed approximately 33% and 56.46% voter turnout, respectively, till 6pm on Monday amid elaborate security arrangements. The fate of 24 candidates in these constituencies would be unsealed after counting on December 8.
Polling began at a slow pace in the morning, but picked up gradually in the evening, said deputy district election officers. There was no report of any untoward incident during polling, said ADG (law and order) Prashant Kumar in a press statement.
The Rampur assembly seat is witnessing a straight contest between BJP candidate Akash Saxena and SP candidate Asim Raza. In the Khatauli assembly segment, BJP candidate Rajkumari Saini is locked in a straight contest with RLD-SP alliance candidate Madan Bhaiya.
Fourteen candidates, including four women, are contesting the Khatauli assembly bypoll while 10 candidates are seeking election from the Rampur Sadar assembly constituency.
Samajwadi Party leaders alleged that the district administration and police were supporting the BJP in the polling and officials were discouraging Muslim voters and SP supporters to cast their votes.
In Rampur, SP leader Azam Khan’s son Abdullah Azam had an altercation with an ASP over the issue of “voters of a particular community being discouraged from casting their vote.”
Khan’s wife Tazeen Fatma, after casting her vote at Raza Inter College, described the polling as a “mockery” where people of a particular community were discouraged from exercising their franchise.
Azam Khan had contested 12 times from the Rampur constituency and defeated his rivals 10 times. The by-election was declared after the seat was declared vacant due to Azam’s conviction in a hate speech case.
In Khatauli, polling picked up slowly and 6.9% voters cast their votes till 9am, which rose to 40.2% at 3pm and 56.46% turnout was recorded by 6pm.
Two incidents of EVM malfunctioning were reported from the booths of Nawla and Ghanshyampura villages. The machines were replaced immediately. The constituency has 3,12,446 voters and Muslim voters are decisive in ascertaining the victory or defeat of candidates in fray.
The Khatauli seat was declared vacant after the conviction of BJP MLA Vikram Saini in the Muzaffarnagar riots case. The BJP fielded Vikram’s wife Rajkumari Saini.
