Summary:
Lucknow, Jun 23 (PTI) An average 27.99 per cent votes were cast till 1 pm in the by-election to Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha seats on Thursday. Over 35 lakh people are eligible to vote in the bypolls and will be deciding the fate of 19 candidates.
An average 27.99 per cent votes were polled till 1 pm in both the seats.
Of these, 26.39 per cent votes were cast in Rampur, and 29.48 per cent in Azamgarh, and polling is going on in a peaceful manner, the election office here said.
Both these seats are considered the bastions of the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) in the state.
The bypoll to the Azamgarh seat was necessitated by the resignation of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly as an MLA in the elections earlier this year.
The Rampur seat was vacated by senior SP leader Azam Khan, who too was elected to the state assembly. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party, in a series of tweets, complained about the alleged wrongdoings in different areas of both the Lok Sabha seats and drew the attention of the Election Commission in this regard.
"The police are harassing SP workers at the behest of the ruling party in Tanda and Daryal areas of Swar assembly seat in Rampur.
The Election Commission should take note.
Action should be taken against the guilty policemen.
Ensure fair voting," the party said and attached a letter written to the poll panel in this regard.
In another tweet, the opposition party alleged that voters were prevented from casting votes at a booth in Tanda and polling was stopped.
It also drew the attention of the Election Commission alleging that its booth agents have been driven out in Azamgarh.
"All agents have been made to leave from all the polling booths in Gopalpur, Sagdi, Mubarakpur, Azamgarh and Mehnagar assembly areas as part of a conspiracy at the behest of the BJP.
The Election Commission should take note.