Nomination for phase II begins

The nomination process for 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly poll in phase II voting on February 11 started on Monday.

In second phase, 59 assembly constituencies across 9 districts viz. Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushi Nagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and Ghazipur would go to polls. UP would witness polling in 7 phases viz. February 8, 11, 15, 19, 23, 28 and March 3.

About 19.3 million voters, including 10.6 million males and 8.7 million females, are eligible to exercise franchise in phase II for which 20,000 polling centres would be set up and 22,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) pressed into service. The last date for filing nominations for phase II voting is January 23, while the scrutiny of nomination papers would be conducted on January 24 and January 27 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

Meanwhile, about 1,600 first information reports (FIRs) have been lodged in UP over model code of conduct violations. Besides, 4,343 illicit arms units had been busted by UP police. About 2,450 illegal arms and over 4,000 cartridges had been confiscated.

Under the EC directives for holding free and fair election, about 5 lakh cases of violation of the model code had come to light in UP pertaining to wall writing, posters, banners and other canvassing material and action taken.

The state excise department had so far confiscated 1.35 lakh litres of illicit liquor, including Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country liquor and beer.