UP civic polls 2017: 'Disheartened' SP again blames EVMs for its loss

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav was utterly disappointed as the results of the recently held civic elections in Uttar Pradesh started pouring in on Friday.

Reacting to the trends emerging from the counting centres, Samajwadi Party leader and MLC Rajpal Kashyap said, ''It was disheartening to note that the BJP gained on places where EVMs were used.''

"The party is closely analysing the results," he added.

However, BJP has categorically rejected the SP's charge that the saffron party won in those places where EVMs were used.

"There was no shortcoming in EVMs, but it's in their minds and party. They worked for a particular caste and people have discarded them. We are working for all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion and that has been accepted by the people," UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said.

Counting of the ballots polled in three phases on November 22, 26 and 29 was on under tight security cover and CCTV surveillance at 334 centres in district and tehsil headquarters, the state election commission said.

Central paramilitary forces have been deployed around the counting centres. Arrangements have also been made for webcasting of the counting process.

The final results are expected by this evening. Results will be communicated to the candidates through SMS on their registered mobile numbers.

Official sources said no procession would be allowed during the counting process and following the announcement of the results.

Polling was held for 16 nagar nigams, 198 nagar palika parishads and 438 nagar panchayats with an average turnout of all the three phases estimated at 52.5 percent of the 3.32 crore voters.

The Adityanath government, soon after assuming office in March, had constituted two municipal corporations of Ayodhya and Vrindavan-Mathura.

The overall percentage recorded an improvement from 46.2 percent in 2012 to 52.5 percent this time.

The elections have generated a lot of political heat with the ruling BJP leaving nothing to chance. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criss-crossed the state to woo voters in the name of development.

Aware that the BJP's performance in the polls was being watched closely after its massive sweep of the state in the Assembly polls this year, Adityanath undertook a whirlwind campaign,
unprecedented for a chief minister, during civic polls.

Opposition SP, BSP and Congress campaigns were low-key as compared to BJP. 

Both SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati did not campaign for their candidates.

Counting of the ballots polled in three phases on November 22, 26 and 29 began this morning under the tight security cover and CCTV surveillance at 334 centres in district and tehsil headquarters.

Central paramilitary forces have been deployed around the counting centres. Arrangements have also been made for webcasting of the counting process.

The final results are expected by this evening. Results will be communicated to the candidates through SMS on their registered mobile numbers.

Official sources said no procession would be allowed during the counting process and following the announcement of the results.

Polling was held for 16 nagar nigams, 198 nagar palika parishads and 438 nagar panchayats with an average turnout of all the three phases estimated at 52.5 percent of the 3.32 crore voters.