The first phase of the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Uttar Pradesh began on Wednesday morning. The polls are being held in three phases, and the first phase will cover a total of 24 districts. Voting began at 7 am and is scheduled to continue until 6 pm. The counting of votes will take place on May 8.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cast his vote in Gorakhpur, his home constituency. Speaking to the media, the CM urged people to come out and exercise their franchise. He also emphasized the importance of the ULB polls and said that they are an opportunity for people to elect their local representatives and contribute to the development of their areas.
The ULB polls are being seen as a litmus test for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. The polls come just a few months ahead of the crucial 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, and a good performance in the ULB polls will give the BJP much-needed momentum.
The opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress, have also fielded their candidates in the ULB polls. The elections are expected to be a triangular contest between the BJP, SP, and BSP.
The ULB polls will be held in three phases, with the second phase scheduled to take place on May 10 and the third phase on May 12. A total of 3.32 crore voters are eligible to vote in the ULB polls, and over 7,000 candidates are in the fray.
The polls are being held amid strict COVID-19 protocols, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) having issued guidelines for safe voting. The ECI has mandated the wearing of masks, use of hand sanitizers, and social distancing at polling booths. The polling booths have also been sanitized, and thermal screening of voters is being done at the entrance.
In conclusion, the first phase of the Urban Local Body polls in Uttar Pradesh is underway, with voting taking place in 24 districts. The polls are being seen as a litmus test for the ruling BJP ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in the state. The opposition parties have also fielded their candidates, and the polls are expected to be a triangular contest. The polls are being held amid strict COVID-19 protocols, and the Election Commission of India has issued guidelines for safe voting.
