The Assembly byelections to three constituencies of Uttar Pradesh—Farrukhabad, Gunnaur and Swar Tanda—passed off peacefully on Friday. While Gunnaur and Swar Tanda recorded 55 per cent and 51 per cent turnout, respectively, Farrukhabad witnessed 50 per cent voting.

Farrukhabad registered an 11 per cent increase in the turnout this time—after a poor 38.94 per cent in the previous Assembly polls. According to observers, it was Chief Minister Mayawati’s special attention to Farrukhabad that seems to have borne fruit this time. The CM had done maximum campaigning for Health Minister Anant Kumar Mishra, the candidate from Farrukhabad who is a relative of Satish Chandra Mishra, a minister in the UP Cabinet.

Over two dozens ministers were also deployed at Farrukhabad for three weeks to ensure Mishra’s return to the Vidhan Sabha.

While the polling was by and large peaceful, the Election Commission received 23 complaints, mostly related to snags in the Electronic Voting Machines and missing names from the voters lists. There were also complaints of non-cooperation against booth agents.

On the complaint of opposition parties, the EC removed a returning officer in Farrukhabad, Udai Veer Singh. The EC has also initiated action against Singh who was allegedly trying to guide the voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said as many as 34 candidates were in the fray from the three Assembly seats. “A large number of police force, including 32 companies of central force and 10 companies of PAC, were deployed to ensure peaceful elections,” he said. The counting will be done on September 3.

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