Shadow Of Varun Gandhi's Absence Looms Large As Pilibhit Logs 60% Voter Turnout Amid EVM Glitches

Pilibhit recorded a voter turnout of over 60 percent, and saw sporadic disruptions as voting remained closed at two booths due to EVM malfunctions.

Voters show their ID cards after casting their votes during the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: In what was a first for Pilibhit, a Lok Sabha constituency whose only claim to media spotlight was that it was represented by a Gandhi, albeit of the BJP; Varun Gandhi was conspicuous by his absence as polling was held for the seat in the opening phase of the general elections on Friday.

The sitting MP and the son of former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Varun wasn't given a fresh ticket by the BJP to contest the seat for a fresh term in the Lower House. The ruling party at the Centre and state, instead, fielded former Congress leader Jitin Prasada from this seat this year.

The decision to sideline Varun wasn't exactly a surprise, considering his recent criticism of the BJP leadership. He had been openly slamming the Uttar Pradesh government's actions during the Covid-19 pandemic, engaging in war of words with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and aligning himself with the farmers' protest at the Delhi borders.

Deviating from the usual electoral landscape, the polling in Pilibhit, which recorded a turnout of over 60 percent, saw sporadic disruptions as voting remained closed at two booths due to EVM malfunctions.

The polling kick-started with a half-hour delay at the Mankapur polling centre in Bisalpur due to EVM glitches. Similarly, polling was interrupted for 30 minutes due to EVM breakdown at the Bisalpur Council Higher Primary School polling station.

Moreover, voting faced a halt for around one and a half hours due to EVM issues at the Sirsa polling booth in Jehanabad village under the Pilibhit Sadar assembly constituency. Subsequently, the faulty EVMs were replaced, ensuring smooth voting.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Jitin Prasada alleged that the Government Girls Inter College polling centre stopped his polling agent from entering the booth. In Bakhshpur village of the Pilibhit Sadar assembly constituency, villagers boycotted voting, citing the closure of their route via the Officers Colony.

To address the villagers' concerns, SDM Sadar Devendra Singh and other officials intervened in Bakhshpur. Voting was also suspended in Mangatpur village of the Barkheda assembly constituency, with locals citing the absence of wire fencing despite frequent wild animal attacks due to the proximity of the forest.

In the midst of the voting process, SP candidate Bhagwat Saran Gangwar from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat levelled serious accusations against the police, claiming police personnel detained their party workers and leaders, forcing them to refrain from casting their ballot.