THE STAGE is set for the by-poll in Mohammadabad in Ghazipur district on Thursday with political parties making last minute efforts to woo the electorate in their favour.
In view of the sensitiveness of the by-poll, massive security arrangements have been made at all the 271 polling booths. Inspector General of Police (IGP) KL Mena and Deputy Inspector General RN Yadav are camping in Mohammadabad to ensure incident-free by-poll on Thursday.
The political parties are making last minute attempts to woo the voters. Reports said door to door campaigning had intensified after the campaigning came to an end last evening. BJP chief Rajnath Singh and UP Congress chief Salman Khursheed campaigned in favour of their respective nominees on the last day of electioneering on Wednesday.
According to official sources, the administration has appointed three super zonal magistrates, six zonal magistrates and 30 sector magistrates for the polling.
The polling will start at 8 AM and conclude at 5 PM. Massive deployment of state police, PAC and CRPF has been made at all the polling booths to ensure peaceful polling. Reports said the polling staff had been deputed this evening for election duty.
It may be mentioned that the Mohammadabad seat had fallen vacant following the gruesome murder of Krishnanand Rai, the sitting BJP MLA, who along with his seven aides was killed on November 29 in Ghazipur. The BJP has fielded Alka Rai, the widow of the slain MLA, as its candidate for the by-election. The BSP has not fielded any candidate. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party have also fielded their candidates.
{{/usCountry}}It may be mentioned that the Mohammadabad seat had fallen vacant following the gruesome murder of Krishnanand Rai, the sitting BJP MLA, who along with his seven aides was killed on November 29 in Ghazipur. The BJP has fielded Alka Rai, the widow of the slain MLA, as its candidate for the by-election. The BSP has not fielded any candidate. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party have also fielded their candidates.
{{/usCountry}}Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Acharya Palnivel had also reviewed the security arrangement with local officials recently.