Polling in one of the most bitterly-fought elections to Uttar Pradesh Assembly began with 62 constituencies going to polls in the first phase on Tuesday morning.
Updated at 18.01 PM
LUCKNOW: An estimated 45 per cent of the 1.67 crore voters exercised their franchise on Saturday during the first phase of polling in 62 assembly constituencies spread over 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh, marked by a low voter turnout and minor clashes at several places.
At least 10 persons have either been detained or arrested for arson and violence.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said here this evening that the polling was ''by and large peaceful''.
In the last Assembly elections in 2002, the voting percentage was 53 per cent. The low voter turnout was a matter of concern for the Election Commission and the political parties.
Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav blamed the EC for the low turnout claiming strictness of the commission was the main reason for the voters to stay away from booths.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from several places, but polling passed off peacefully, claimed EC officials here.
The central forces stopped the convoy of state PWD minister and SP candidate from Jaswantnagar Shivpal Singh Yadav at Akbarpur in his constituency.
The Minister and his supporters were later permitted to go ahead.
Reports of minor clashes have been received from Kanpur, Agra, Ferozabad and Mahoba while in some booths, polling was delayed due to snags in Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs).
In Ferozabad, a gram pradhan, identified as Swami Prasad, was arrested for distributing fake ration cards to people. Ration cards are one of the several identity options given by the EC to cast vote.
In Mahoba, Central Reserve Police (CRP) used minor force to disperse a mob which had gathered outside a polling centre.
In Kanpur, several people were allegedly not allowed to vote despite possessing Election Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) as their names were not in the electoral rolls.
Similar incidents were reported from Mainpuri, Jhansi, Auriya, Etah and Agra.
A minor clash was reported from Kanpur Cantonment seat where women supporters of BJP and Congress clashed over electoral rolls, while in Miapur in Babina assembly seat of Jhansi district, a clash took place over snatching of EPICs. A clash over voters' list was also reported from Kalpi assembly seat in Jalaun district.
At least five people have been arrested so far in Kanpur and Agra for trying to disrupt the polling process. While five youths were detained in Sarsaul assembly seat in Kanpur, two were arrested at Mantola in Agra (City) assembly constituency.
Another report from Etawah said violating EC norms, state police was seen inside the polling booth, while central forces were manning the gates outside.
Mulayam Singh Yadav cast his vote at a polling booth in Etawah along with his sibling and minister Shivpal Singh, and son Akhilesh Yadav, who is an MP from Kannauj.
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