UP Elections 2012,News, Update, Analysis, Results

Slow Polling in first phase due to rain

Sameer Khan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:53 +0000

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on Wednesday, polling has been slow in the first phase with only 13 per cent electorate exercising their franchisee till noon. Rain has played spoilsport in many Assembly segments where voting is taking place. Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said that the percentage was low due to heavy rains in certain areas where polling was being held even though it is a public holiday.

The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) holds the maximum number of seats – 30 the first phase; Congress and Samajwadi Party are posing stiff challenge to Chief Minister Mayawati and are trying to…

UP Polls: Gadkari accusing on Congress, SP and BSP

Manpreet Kaur — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:49:11 +0000

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari accusing on Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party of being “hand-in-glove” over the issues of corruption and vote bank politics. they also declared that if it failed to get majority in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, it would sit in the opposition.

He said reservations based on religious identity were “at variance with the stand taken by stalwarts like Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee when the issue had come up for discussion before the Constituent Assembly”. All these parties appear to be hand-in-glove”, BJP National President Nitin Gadkari told reporters here.…

UP polls: Cold keeps voters indoors in first phase polls

Manjeet Singh — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:02:31 +0000

With the rain and cold keeping people away from polling booths in Uttar Pradesh, where the first phase of the staggered assembly elections are on. Till 11 a.m., four hours after polling began at 7 a.m., there was only 13.38 percent turnout in the 55 assembly constituencies in the eastern part of the state, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha.

In the first two hours of polling, for instance, just 150 voters stepped out of their homes in the cold and rainy weather at the Puremoti primary school in Barabanki, barely 35 km from here.

People will come out to vote for Congress once the rain stop

Anil Sharma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:56:47 +0000

Pannalal Punia, who is the Congress leader and chairman of National Commission for Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes. When he came to vote in a small polling station in Awari area of Barabanki, there were hardly any voters around. He told, “Congress expects to win and once the rains stops people would surely come out to vote.”

He even gave evidence against Mayawati in the Taj corridor scam. Today, he is struggling to ensure that the Dalit votes return to the Congress. The chilly weather may help Mayawati because her loyal voters are likely to come, but the middle class voters…

My fight is only for people,not for any post: Rahul Gandhi

Sameer Khan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:48:27 +0000

Yesterday, during the press conference at Varanasi Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said his fight is not for any post but to take the voice of the people to the government. For me politics is not for securing any post. That is what I learnt in the past seven years,” he told a string of election meetings.

Kanshi Ramji was doing well in the beginning. Mulayam Singhji and Mayawatiji were also performing well at the start of their political careers.”But after becoming the Chief Minister, Mayawatiji built a 40-ft wall around her house,” Rahul said.

38% candidates in third phase face criminal charges

Parul Verma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:27:26 +0000

The third phase of UP assembly elections 2012 has a considerable number of criminal candidates contesting the election. The Uttar Pradesh Election Watch (UPEW) has analysed affidavits of 317 candidates out of 1,029 candidates contesting the third phase of Uttar Pradesh 2012 assembly elections.

Among these 121 candidates of third phase, who have declared criminal cases against themselves, Brijesh Singh alias Arun Kumar Singh, who is contesting election from Saiyadraja constituency, on a ticket of Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party, has declared maximum number of criminal cases.

Extensive security in Polls place

Arif Qureshi — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:13:49 +0000

The assembly election begin on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh, the most extensive security cover ever in the country. The massive security apparatus will include over 75,000 personnel from the central paramilitary forces — maximum deployment ever in any state, nearly 1.75 lakh men from Uttar Pradesh Police (UPP), choppers for aerial surveillance and night vision devices for regions prone to poll related violence.

As per the ECI assessment, the forthcoming assembly election will have at least 5000 more polling stations as compared to the 2007 assembly election. The difference in the count is because 2007 election was held on the basis…

First phase Polls,Congress, BSP prestige at stake

Parul Verma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:04:14 +0000

The first phase of the assembly elections on Wednesday (February in 55 constituencies across ten districts in Central UP and a part of the Terai region would witness a key contest between the BSP, the Congress with the SP and the BJP trying to make it a four-cornered fight.

But the prestige of the Congress and the BSP in particular, are at stake. The BSP swept the 2007 assembly elections here, whereas the Congress dominated the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The first phase would also decide the fate of several bigwigs who are not in the fray but have put up…

UP Polls: Voting start for first phase on slow note

Anil Sharma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:51 +0000

The Polling began on Wednesday on a moderate to brisk note amid tight security for the first phase of the high-voltage Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections that will decide the fate of two ministers, 31 MLAs and 15 former ministers. The polling started at 7 am for 55 seats. More than 1.70 lakh electorates – 952.87 lakh male and 70.44 lakh female – are expected to seal the fate of 862 candidates. The candidates include 796 men, 65 women and one eunuch.

Today’s polling would decide the future of cabinet minister Lalji Verma, minister of state Sangram Singh Verma, 31 sitting MLAs,…

Election Commission banned exit poll till March 3

Parul Verma — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:47:09 +0000

The Election Commission on Tuesday banned exit polls till March 3, till the completion of assembly elections in five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. In a notification issued on Tuesday, it also banned release of opinion polls in any manner on electronic media under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 during period of 48 hours, counted backwards from close of poll, in each phase.

While the ban on exit polls would apply to both the electronic and print media till 5:30 pm on March 3, the ban on opinion polls will only apply…

UP Polls: Congress fielded tainted former BSP minister

Anil Sharma — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:59:53 +0000

Congress fielded tainted former BSP minister Anis Ahmed Khan alias Phool Babu as the party candidate from Bisalpur Assembly seat in Pilibhit district. The party changed its earlier announced candidate Dev Swarup Patel from the seat and yesterday decided on fielding Phool Babu from the seat, Congress sources here said.

Khan was sacked by Chief Minister Mayawati following reports of misuse of his MLA fund. He was also denied a ticket by Mayawati.

Mayawati blames on opposition for using ‘pet dogs’

Anil Sharma — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:33:12 +0000

UP Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati that she accused the opposition parties of using their “pet dogs” for spoiling her programme. The incident took place in the afternoon when Mayawati was addressing a public meeting in Khorabar area of Gorakhpur city. Suddenly a woman in crowd got up and tried to enter the “D” area before the stage. When the security personnel stopped her, she started shouting and tried to force her way. The securitymen then handed her over to the police who took her outside.

Out of curiosity, many in the gathering stood up. It distracted…

SP will Control crime in UP, if elected: Mulayam

Manpreet Kaur — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:34:23 +0000

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav has said that his government would curb crime and lawlessness, if elected to power in Uttar Pradesh. “No criminals or musclemen would be allowed to grow in the state, no matter how influential the person. Even if there is such a person in the Samajwadi Party, he will be punished. All those who spread fear and violence in the state will be sent to prison or out of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

The polls in Uttar Pradesh are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold…

UP Polls: Rahul slams BJP’s ‘India Shining’ campaign

Manjeet Singh — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:24:36 +0000

Launching the second phase of poll campaign in UP Rahul Gandhi ridiculed BJP’s ‘India Shining’ slogan, maintaining that those espousing such an idea never visited the poor in the villages and workers and understood their plight. Rahul asked whether top BJP leader L K Advani, UP Chief Minister Mayawati or Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav ever dined with poor in the villages or held hands of workers, asking them about their well-being in the past five years.

In the last five years, have you seen Mulayam Singh, Mayawati or Advaniji dining with the poor in any village, holding hands with…

No alliance with SP, BSP: Uma Bharti

Sameer Khan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:12:58 +0000

BJP’s firebrand leader Uma Bharti on Monday said if her party falls short of majority in forming the government in Uttar Pradesh after the Assembly polls, she would prefer “drowning” rather than striking an alliance with either SP or BSP. In case we fall short of majority in forming the government in UP, I would prefer drowning in Saryu river rather than striking an alliance with either SP or BSP,” she said an election rally at Ramlila ground.

Bharti, who was brought in a wheel chair following problem in the hip, said SP is an opportunistic party and its chief Mulayam…

Congress, BJP misleading people on black money: Mayawati

Ravi Kumar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:52:50 +0000

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati hitting out at Congress and BJP, she said both the parties are misleading public on the black money issue. they are not seriously concerned about bringing it back,” she said at an election meeting.

Mayawati also held SP, BJP and Congress responsible for the backwardness of UP, specially purvanchal region. When SP, BJP and Congress were in power in UP, they did nothing for its progress and indulged in corruption and this is the main reason for the backwardness of the state.

BJP, JD-U may tie up in UP polls: Sharad Yadav

Ravi Kumar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:01:06 +0000

Sharad Yadav, who is the chief of JD-U on Monday said his party could forge a post-poll tie up with BJP in Uttar Pradesh and insisted that the decision of the two parties to contest separately should not be seen as a rift in the NDA. there was no difference with BJP and both the parties were together, Yadav said.

Attacking on Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress leader should break his silence on various scams in the UPA government. He said no one would believe Rahul’s statement that he would change the picture of UP if Congress came to power.…

Robert’s statement is internal matter of Gandhis: BJP

Sameer Khan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:44:12 +0000

BJP on Monday took a dig at the Congress’s first family, saying Robert Vadra’s comment about joining politics was their internal family matter and hence the party would not like to comment on it. Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra told reporters in Uttar Pradesh on Monday that he could join politics if people wanted it. This led to intense speculation about why the remark was made even as it was a reply to a straight question from reporters.

Stung by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the party’s senior leaders L K Advani and Narendra Modi on the issue of…

Congress committed to fight on corruption issue: Rahul

Arif Qureshi — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:06:17 +0000

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that “party was committed to fighting corruption at all levels and has demonstrated its will by taking prompt action in every case that has come to light”. Accusing other political parties of doublespeak on the issue, he said: “Those who were truly committed to fighting corruption do not go about talking. Other political parties only indulged in much loud talk on corruption,” he asserted.

Citing the example of the Lokpal bill that was tabled in parliament in December 2011, Gandhi said: “I stood up in parliament for a strong constitutional Lokpal bill that…

UP polls start from wednesday

Anil Sharma — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:51:34 +0000

Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous and politically crucial state, The high-decibel battle for polls starts from Wednesday. when 55 assembly constituencies go to polls in the first phase. A total of 1.70 crore people are eligible to vote in this round. Campaigning for the first of the seven-phase polls ended Monday evening in districts like Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharth Nagar, Maharajganj and Kushinagar.

Among the important constituencies are Mahasi and Matera in Bahraich, Ayodhya in Faizabad, Sitapur, Kushinagar, Mubarakpur in Azamgarh and Gazipur.

Not averse to joining politics: Robert Vadra

Ravi Kumar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:36:06 +0000

Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra, Hitting the campaign trail in this Gandhi family bastion indicated that he was not averse to joining politics. Arriving here along with his daughter last night, Vadra took part in a rally in Gauriganj this morning and later addressed the electorate in Salon assembly segment of Amethi.

He stressed that he is lending support as a family member to take forward Rahul’s message, though both Rahul and Priyanka do not require any help. “I have come to share and take Rahul’s message to villages and every corner and you will definitely see a change,” he said.…

Reject politicians who don’t think about you: Priyanka

Parul Verma — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:57:49 +0000

Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi said, “Rahul’s prestige is not associated with the votes, but with your affection. Priyanka also launched an attack on Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, and said that people should decide whether they want a government, which works for them or the one which spends crores on buildings.

Addressing a public meeting here on the third day of her five-day tour, she said, “Reject the politicians, who negate you. It is upto the electorates to understand whether they want a government, which thinks or works for them, or the one which wastes…

UP Polls: Notification for last phase issued

Manjeet Singh — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:30:40 +0000

The Notification for the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly election was issued on Monday with which nominations process also started. The seventh phase would decide the fate of Muslim face of Samajwadi Party Mohd Azam Khan from Rampur and Saurabh Singh, son of BSP MP and coordintaor Jugul Kishore from Kasta.

Polling for seventh phase of elections covering 60 seats spread over Bijnore, Moradabad, Bhimnagar, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Badaun, Bareilly. Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri, would be held on March 3. More than 1.80 crore voters are expected to cast their votes at 17,640 polling booths at…

BSP govt Included in land-scam: Mulayam

Arif Qureshi — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:20:13 +0000

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday said that the Mayawati-led government was involved in land-grabbing and over Rs 40,000 crore scams . The present BSP government in the state is involved in land-grabbing and corruption cases. The Mayawati-led government has committed scams of over Rs 40,000 crores,” Yadav said while addressing an election meeting here.

The youths, who could not be provided jobs will be given unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 per month, loans of weavers upto Rs 50,000 will be waived off, besides attempts will be made to include 70 castes in SC category,” Yadav said urging people to…

Priyanka Gandhi hits out at Mayawati

Manjeet Singh — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:30:30 +0000

Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi attacked on Chief Minister Mayawati, Priyanka said people should decide whether they want a government which works for them or one which spends crores on buildings. she told on the third day of her five-day tour

You create leaders, you form the government. A leader, who does not have feeling of service towards people and who thinks that power is a chance of self promotion, only you people can teach him a lesson,” Priyanka said.

Poll results will be better for Congress: Rahul Gandhi

Ravi Kumar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:29:50 +0000

Elections results for the Congress will be solid. People are looking up to the Congress. This is what people told us. Common man in Uttar Pradesh is telling me that they have been fooled for the last 22 years,” Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, on a campaign trail in the poll bound state, said.

My mission is to change UP, bring development to UP,” he said, denying he was worried about election results. Mission 2012 is your coined term. It is not mine,” the Congress leader replied when he was asked if his “mission 2012 would be successful”. …

UP Polls: BSP supporters beaten Congress candidate

Sameer Khan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:20:44 +0000

Kajal Nishad, who is contest on Congress ticket from Gorakhpur was beaten up by supporters of BSP candidate, Ram Bhulawan Nishad, by iron rods, lathis and stones while campaigning in Kakrakhor. The actress and her supporters suffered injuries and their vehicles were also damaged by the BSP cadre.

Ram Bhulawan Nishad was standing close to Kajal Nishad while the former’s supporters attacked her but left the spot after the incident. The actress however sat on a protest and withdrew only afer Sanjay Kumar, district magistrate promised action against the culprits.

campaigning for first phase elections ends today

Ravi Kumar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:27:11 +0000

The campaigning for the first phase of elections ends on Monday. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will be addressing meetings and rallies across different districts including Varanasi and Ghazipur. Meanwhile, his sister Priyanka Gandhi will complete her tour of Raebareli and Amethi. Earlier, addressing huge crowds on Sunday Priyanka defended the government and also her brother saying that Rahul was not in politics to get the Prime Minister’s job.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari will be addressing rallies in Balia and Ghazipur and BJP star campaigner Uma Bharti will woo voters in Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Faizabad.

BJP to sit in opposition if no majority: Nitin

Parul Verma — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:02:31 +0000

Addressing an election rally, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday that the party would prefer sitting in the opposition if it did not get the majority in Uttar Pradesh rather than forging alliance with any political party.BJP will form the government on its own and if it does not happen then it will neither forge an alliance with any party nor extend support to SP or BSP for government formation.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress ruled for 40 years and SP and BSP had government for considerable time, but instead of ensuring justice to backward and most backward sections of the…

Visiting in villages a part of Lifestyle: Rajnath Singh

Ravi Kumar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:03:27 +0000

Former BJP national president Rajnath Singh said for leaders of his party doing that was not a “picnic” but part of a lifestyle. they was talking at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visiting villages. Rahul goes to villages and stays there I would like to say that visiting villages is not a picnic for BJP leaders, it is part of our lifestyle and Congress people should understand this,” Singh told reporters”.

Singh alleged that Rahul Gandhi can see elephant eating the money, but he is unable to see problems being faced by common people due to price rise, while serious allegations…