Samajwadi Party's candidate for the Muzaffarnagar constituency, Harendra Singh Malik, has raised allegations of booth capturing by BJP agents in Kutba village. In a letter addressed to the Election Commission, Malik highlighted the situation in Kutba, which happens to be the home village of BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan. He urged the immediate deployment of paramilitary forces in the area to ensure fair elections.
Malik's letter to the Election Commission stated, "Booth capturing is being done by BJP agents in Kutba village of BJP candidate Sanjeev Balyan, and voters are being beaten up and sent away without casting their votes."
The District Election Officer, Aravind Mallappa Bangari, however, denied these allegations, news agency PTI reported.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 58% Turnout On 8 Western UP Seats In First Phase Of Polls
Meanwhile, the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a 58 per cent voter turnout across eight constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh. The constituencies where polling took place include Saharanpur, Moradabad, Kairana, Nagina, Pilibhit, Bijnor, Rampur, and Muzaffarnagar. These areas are significant as they fall within the Jat and sugarcane belt of the state.
Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer, Navdeep Rinwa, reported that voting concluded peacefully across most polling stations by 6 pm. Rinwa also mentioned that there were no reports of any untoward incidents during the polling process, PTI reported.
However, some areas experienced voter boycotts due to local issues. In Pilibhit district, residents of Purana village boycotted the polls to protest against the absence of civic amenities, particularly the lack of a bridge in the area. Similar boycotts occurred in other villages due to issues such as blocked roads and concerns over man-animal conflict, PTI's report stated.
The elections also saw notable participation from political figures. Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed the need to continue the developmental journey initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Other prominent BJP leaders, including UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary, also exercised their voting rights.
A total of 80 candidates, including 73 men and seven women, contested in this phase. Key contenders included the BJP's Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, Union Minister Sanjeev Kumar Balyan from Muzaffarnagar, and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina.
In Uttar Pradesh, the ruling BJP has formed an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), while the SP has allied with the Congress. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has opted to contest independently.
The Election Commission deployed significant security measures, including personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary and the Central Armed Police Forces, to ensure the smooth conduct of elections in the state.