Uttar Pradesh civic polls 2017 LIVE Updates: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj's name missing from voter list, cries conspiracy
For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Uttar Pradesh local body elections will be a referendum on the Yogi Adityanath-led government's performance.
The first phase of the Uttar Pradesh local body elections kicked off today with voting in 24 districts.
Yogi Adityanath, who faces his first big electoral test in Uttar Pradesh since being appointed as the chief minister of the state, cast his vote in Gorakhpur.
The local body elections in Uttar Pradesh are being held in three phases--25 districts go to polls on November 26 and the remaining 26 districts will cast votes on November 29.
For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Uttar Pradesh local body elections are an indicator of the government's popularity among masses.
FOLLOW THE LIVE UPDATES ON NAGAR NIGAM ELECTIONS IN UTTAR PRADESH:
12:17 PM: This looks like a political conspiracy, says Sakshi Maharaj on his name missing from the voter list in Unnao
12:15 PM: BJP MP from Unnao Sakshi Maharaj raises objections with district magistrate after his name was not found in the voting list; DM has ordered an inquiry into the matter
11:30 AM: Problem reported at EVM booth number 243 in Meerut
10:40 AM: Voting underway in Jalaun district during first phase of nagar nigam election in Uttar Pradesh
Voting underway for the first phase of local body election in #UttarPradesh: Visuals from a polling station in #Jalaun pic.twitter.com/hYKEZwTTB3- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 22, 2017
10:30 AM: Voting starts in three booths of Mani Ram Bagia ward number 104 after technical glitches in three EVMs
Kanpur: Voting started in three booths of Mani Ram Bagia Ward number 104 after technical glitches in three EVMs #UttarPradesh pic.twitter.com/8mqRlqgM3q- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 22, 2017
Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya have been campaigning extensively and holding public rallies across the state.
Hitting the campaign trail, the chief minister was in Ayodhya last week, where he interacted with voters ahead of the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh local body elections.
According to sources in the party, the BJP's victory will be a huge booster for Yogi Adityanath and ensure his development agenda is implemented without any friction in the party.
BIGWIGS HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
For the Congress, which suffered a humiliating defeat in the Assembly election early this year despite an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, the local body elections offer a chance to regain some lost ground ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
The Congress has announced former Union minister Pradeep Jain as its mayoral candidate from Jhansi. Jain lost the Lok Sabha election in Jhansi to BJP heavyweight Uma Bharti in 2014.
Both the BJP and the Congress have brought in national leaders to address constituencies during the three-phase local body elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union ministers V K Singh and Santosh Gangwar have campaigned in their respective constituencies.
The Congress too has delegated responsibilities to senior leaders like Jitin Prasada and Salman Khurshid for campaigning in Uttar Pradesh along with state party chief Raj Babbar.
During the three-phase local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, over 3.32 crore voters would exercise their franchise at 36,269 polling booths and 11,389 polling stations.
Counting of votes will take place on December 1.
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