As counting for bypoll elections across 15 states began on Saturday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abhishek Bharti said that adequate security force has been deployed to ensure safety and smooth flow of the counting procedure in Prayagraj district.
Speaking to ANI on the Phulpur assembly constituency bypoll results, ACP Bharti said, "The counting of votes has started and in view of its safety, Paramilitary, PAC, District Police and all our ACPs of Prayagraj Commissionerate are on duty. All the security arrangements are there." "Model Code of Conduct is in force and conducting victory processions is banned. The political parties and public have also been requested to comply with all rules and regulations," said the official. The bypolls were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad and Kerala. These elections mark the electoral debut of Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is contesting in Wayanad, earlier held by her brother Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, counting for which began on Saturday morning, as per the early trends from the Election Commission of India. Wayanad, a Congress bastion is witnessing a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and the Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri. As per the ECI at 9 am today, Priyanka is leading with 5672 votes with Communist Party of India candidate Sathyan Mokeri trailing with 1298 votes. BJP candidate Navya Haridas is at the third spot with 1133 votes, as per ECI.Priyanka Gandhi is contesting from the Wayanad constituency as a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate, from the seat her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated. Wayanad's seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year. If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, she will be the third person from the Gandhi family to enter Parliament. BJP candidate Navya Haridas today expressed confidence in her party's victory, saying that if the people want development in Wayanad, they will choose the NDA. Speaking to ANI, Haridas said. "Last time Rahul Gandhi had won from Wayanad but he rejected this Mandal and retained Rae Bareli. This time the voting percentage came down as they were not in the mood to face the election after the landslide incident. If people need development in Wayanad, then they would select NDA." (ANI)
|