UP Panchayat Polls: BJP Sweeps Over 500 Blocks, SP Washed Out As Violence Mars Local Elections

Violence and incidents of clashes were reported from 17 districts, including Amethi, Ballia, Siddharth Nagar, Kanpur and others.

Lucknow: Counting of votes for the 476 posts of block panchayat chiefs has ended in Uttar Pradesh and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained a massive win securing all seats of 8 blocks in Lucknow and Kannauj. The saffron party even swept six out of eight seats in Moradabad and won three out of six seats in Bhadohi. 

In Sultanpur region, the BJP bagged 15 out of 19 seats, while three seats were clinched by Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP). The ruling party in Uttar Pradesh even won as many as 14 seats in Agra. 

In Hardoi block, the ruling party bagged 14 out of 19 seats whereas SP managed to secure only one seat. The BJP also won eight out of nine seats in Muzaffarnagar, while RLD won the remaining seat.

The ruling party bagged 12 out of 22 seats in Azamgarh blocks while SP won only seven seats and three independent candidates grabbed one seat each.

BJP Panchayat Poll Tally So Far

The results for 650 block panchayat polls have been announced so far out of which over 550 have been secured by the BJP and 335 were won unopposed by the party. SP has managed to win only 71 blocks, while other parties and independent candidates have won 80 seats.

Violence Mars In UP Panchayat Polls

According to reports, intense clashes were reported in over 15 districts during elections on Saturday. A UP Police official said that violence and incidents of clashes were reported from 17 districts, including Amethi, Ballia, Siddharth Nagar, Kanpur, Mau, Hamirpur, Amroha, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Firozabad, Unnao, Pratapgarh, Etawah, Kanpur Dehat and Chandauli.

Stone-pelting, cop being allegedly slapped, bombs being carried by candidates in Etawah district were reported. Even a journalist was allegedly beaten up in Unnao district who had gone to report from a polling station. 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath Reacts To Violence

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials that tight security arrangements should be made at each block where counting is taking place.

In a statement issued here, Adityanath said there should be a system in place wherein the winning and losing candidates be escorted to their homes under police protection.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties, including SP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress, have accused the ruling BJP of damaging democracy in the elections and even attacked it for allegedly showing "utter disrespect" to women during the election process.