Lucknow goes to the polls today, as do some of the biggest names in the state. While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is contesting from Lucknow, Rahul Gandhi is in the fray in Rae Bareli, a seat vacated by Sonia Gandhi after five victories.
Of the 14 seats that will see voting in the state on Monday, 13 went to the BJP in 2019 with the Congress picking up its only seat in the state in Rae Bareli.
Among the other ministers in fray are Kaushal Kishore (Mohanlalganj), Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Fatehpur) and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma (Jalaun).
For the BJP, Ayodhya is a prestigious constituency, as this is the first election after the pran pratishtha. Here Lallu Singh is taking on Samajwadi Party's nine-time MLA Awadhesh Pratap. Qaiserganj is also a seat to watch out for, as Brijbhushan Sharan Singh’s son is contesting from there.
Lucknow also has a Vidhan Sabha bypoll from Lucknow (East). The state capital is the former constituency of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and its slogan of choice once was, ‘Vote Atal ko, Vote kamal ko’ (Vote for Atal, Vote for Lotus). The temperature was at 39 degrees Celsius when polling started at 7 am.
Gandhi is to arrive in Rae Bareli later in the day and go around the polling booths. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been stationed there since May 6 and has also taken charge of Amethi where family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma is pitted against Smriti Irani.
BSP leader Mayawati, after casting her vote, said, “I think this time there will be a change of government”.
At the time of filing this report, a person, identified as Rajan Singh, was arrested for casting his vote eight times in Farrukhabad constituency's Etah. The incident was brought to light through a video circulating on social media. An FIR was registered under Sections 171-F and 419 of the Indian Penal Code, in addition to relevant sections of the People’s Representation Act, 1951.
All the members of the polling party from the booth have also been suspended. A repoll has been ordered in the booth.
