Lucknow, Wednesday, February 8, 2012: 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 spread over 10 districts — Sitapur, Barabanki, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar and Basti amidst tight security arrangements, Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said in Lucknow.

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.

Maximum 26 candidates are in fray for Barabanki seat, whereas Mehmoodabad has minimum number of 8 candidates. Stakes are high for ruling BSP, Congress, SP and the BJP in the no holds barred fight for the 403 assembly seats.

Today’s polling would decide the future of cabinet minister Lalji Verma, minister of state Sangram Singh Verma, 31 sitting MLAs, 15 former ministers and relatives of several MPs including Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma.

It would be a litmus test for Congress leaders, including Beni Prasad Verma and National Commission for Scheduled Caste Chairman P L Punia as both of them represent the areas going to the polls.

(News agency)