Officials in Uttar Pradesh have completed preparations for the vote counting of the urban local body (ULB) polls and the bye-election to two assembly constituencies that were held in two phases on May 4 and May 11. The ULB polls saw 53% of eligible voters, out of a total of 4.32 crore, cast their votes, and 83,378 candidates were in the fray for 14,522 posts. The counting will begin at 8 am on Saturday, May 14, across 353 counting centres that have been set up in the state.
The State Election Commission has given instructions to arrange cold water and sharbat at the counting centres in view of the rising heat. The ULB polls will elect 17 mayors, 1,401 corporators, 198 chairpersons, and 5,260 members of nagar palika parishads, while for nagar panchayats, the fate of 542 chairpersons and 7,104 members will be decided.
In addition, the bye-elections were held in Suar assembly seat in Rampur district and Chhanbey (SC) in Mirzapur district on May 10. On both the seats, there was a direct contest between the ruling coalition led by the BJP and the opposition Samajwadi Party. The outcome of these polls will have an impact on the state’s political landscape and also showcase the strength of parties before the crucial 2024 general election, as Uttar Pradesh sends the maximum 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.
The BJP, which currently holds power in most of the civic bodies, is confident of a clean sweep in the ULB polls and the bypolls, as per party spokesperson Hero Bajpai. However, opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party are hopeful of surprising results, according to their respective spokespersons. The results are eagerly awaited by all parties and their candidates.
