Election Results 2022: EC deputes special officers for counting of votes in Varanasi, Meerut

The Election Commission of India Wednesday deputed special officers to supervise counting of votes in Meerut and Varanasi amid complaints from opposition parties about alleged irregularities in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi has been sent as a special officer to oversee the counting process in Meerut and Bihar's CEO in Varanasi. The counting of votes for the recently-concluded assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand will begin at 8 am on Thursday. Altogether, 671 counting observers, 130 police observers and 10 special observers will be on ground to ensure the counting process is smooth, the Commission said.

Workers and activists of the Rashtriya Lok Dal and farmers' outfit Bharatiya Kisan Union have pitched tents near election offices in various districts of western Uttar Pradesh to keep an eye on assembly polls' vote counting on Thursday. While the RLD has fought the just-concluded polls in tie up with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, the office-bearers of the BKU, which was part of the anti-farm laws protest against the BJP-led Centre, insists it is an “apolitical” group. Voting in 113 assembly seats across 20 districts of western UP had taken place on February 10 and 14.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said in view of counting of votes on Thursday, prohibitory measures under CrPC section 144 have been imposed in all districts and gathering of people outside the counting centres is prohibited. All necessary arrangements have been made for the counting, and as per instructions of the Election Commission, only two people can accompany the winning candidate or his official representative to the counting centre to collect the certificate, he said, adding that victory processions are prohibited as well.

Samajwadi Party on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to 'webcast' the counting of votes on March 10 so that political parties can watch the proceedings live. According to a statement issued by party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary, SP state president Naresh Uttam in his letter to the Commission claimed that during the UP assembly polls, 'webcasting' was done in more than 50 percent of polling stations on the day of voting. Uttam wrote in the letter that the webcast link was provided to the ECI, the Chief Electoral Officer as well as the District Election Officer, and officials of the Commission were watching the voting "live".

Three officials were removed from election duty in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, a day after the Samajwadi Party alleged that electronic voting machines were being shifted in an unauthorised manner. The officials were replaced on the directions of the Election Commission. The nodal officer for EVMs in Varanasi, a returning officer (RO) in Sonbhadra district and an additional election officer in Bareilly district have been pulled out from election duties, a day ahead of the counting of votes in UP. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, counting of votes in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur will take place on Thursday.
Assembly polls were held in these state over seven phases.

Counting of votes polled in the February 14 Assembly elections in Goa will be taken up on Thursday morning in the state, where the ruling BJP is seeking a third straight term in power, while the opposition Congress is hoping for a clear mandate in its favour to avoid the fiasco of 2017. As many as 302 candidates contested for the 40 assembly seats which saw multi-cornered fights due to presence of several smaller and regional outfits besides the BJP and the Congress, the two major political forces in Goa. The votes will be counted at two places – Damodar College in Margao and Government College of Polytechnic at Altinho in Panaji – covering Assembly constituencies falling in North Goa district and South Goa district, respectively, officials said on Wednesday. Most exit polls have predicted a hung House in the tiny coastal state, leading the political parties to formulate their strategies keeping in mind different post-result scenarios.

A day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged malpractices, a BJP delegation on Wednesday met the Election Commission (EC) and requested it to ensure that the counting centres are fully protected to ensure that faith and confidence of the common voter in Indian democracy is not vitiated in any manner.

With less than 24 hours to go for counting of votes, political parties in Uttarakhand on Wednesday began fine-tuning their strategies to deal with any scenario that could possibly emerge once the results of the assembly polls are declared. Counting of votes for the state's 70 assembly seats will begin at 8 am on Thursday. Over 65 per cent polling had been recorded in the Uttarakhand Assembly Polls held on February 14.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal sought a ban on exit polls from the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday. 
His demand came after a number of exit polls predicted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to form the next government in Punjab, which witnessed a multi-cornered electoral contest on February 20. The counting of votes will be taken up on Thursday.

Panaji, Mar 9 (PTI) Former Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday said he was confident of winning from Mandrem, his old constituency, but refused to say anything about whether he would support the BJP. He contested the election as an independent after the BJP denied him ticket and fielded sitting MLA Dayanand Sopte instead from Mandrem.

Desperate to avoid the repeat of the 2017 fiasco when it had failed to form a government in Goa despite scoring the maximum number of seats, the Congress has shifted all the candidates who had contested the Assembly polls to a luxury resort in Bambolim village near Panaji ahead of the counting of votes on March 10. Given that the political stakes are very high and considering the quicksand of Goa politics, the party may not allow some candidates even to visit the counting centre on Thursday, a senior Congress leader said on Wednesday.

Amid reports of EVM mishandling, the Congress has said the allegations are serious and questioned whether the Election Commission has become an extended arm of the BJP. Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The reports of EVM mishandling are very serious." He said the EC should respond to the allegations. "If EVMs are being found in Garbage trucks, what does that say about the state of our electoral democracy? Does the EC have any answers? Has it become an extended arm of the BJP govt?" Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were moved illegally in Varanasi just 48 hours before the counting of votes of state elections. His party tweeted the on-camera statement of an official conceding there were 'lapses'. Varanasi's Commissioner Deepak Agarwal appeared to accept that there was a lapse in protocol in the movement of EVMs. However, he insisted that the vote machines in question were only for training purposes. "If you talk about the protocol for the movement of EVMs, there was a lapse in the protocol, I accept that. But I can guarantee you, it is impossible to take away machines used in voting," he said and explained that there were CCTV cameras, security guards and political party representatives at the counting centres. "Political party workers can even sit outside the centres to keep an eye," the Commissioner added.

Punjab: Aam Aadmi Party CM candidate Bhagwant Mann visits the site of EVM strong room at Patiala, ahead of counting of votes tomorrow. There is high security here. Yesterday, I visited Mansa and Sangrur, he says.

"Goa voters want change, want Congress government. All our candidates have pledged their loyalty. Not even a single candidate will move out of the camp. They will stay together. All of us have come to Goa from Karnakata just to assist them (Goa Congress candidates), says DK Shivakumar, Congress

Only political parties which want to commit suicide will join forces with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party this time, state Congress president Girish Chodankar said on Wednesday. Chodankar, who is camping with the party's candidates at a beach resort near Panaji, also said that all steps have been taken by the party to ensure that the BJP does not hijack its winning candidates like it panned out in a post-counting scenario in 2017. "If any political party wants to commit suicide and destroy themselves, they should go to the BJP. The BJP is waiting for them with a knife, it will slaughter them as and when they want," Chodankar told reporters. "The Congress has always taken people along and respected them. We have not betrayed anyone. BJP has destroyed those people who helped bring the party to power. People of Goa have not forgotten this. People have no trust in BJP. There is no party left in Goa which wants to go with the BJP," Chodankar also said, two days after several exit polls have suggested a tough contest between the BJP and the Congress in which both parties appear to be falling just short of the majority mark of 21 seats.

The stage is set for counting of votes on Thursday for 117 assembly seats in Punjab where the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has emerged as a major contender while the Congress is seeking to retain power in the multi-cornered contest. Various exit polls have predicted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will form the next government in Punjab but a few have also forecast a hung assembly in the state which had witnessed a high-stakes contest on February 20. Counting of votes will start at 8 am at 117 centres in 66 locations, said Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju on Wednesday. A total of 1,304 candidates, including 93 women and two transgenders, were in the fray. The state recorded voter turnout of 71.95 per cent. It was the lowest percentage as compared to the voting percentage observed in three previous assembly elections. In the 2017 Punjab assembly polls, the voting percentage recorded was 77.40. The percentage in 2007 and 2012 was 75.45 and 78.20 respectively. In the 2002 elections, the voting percentage was 65.14.

Preparations underway at a counting centre in Porompat, Imphal-East, a day ahead of the Manipur Elections 2022 result.

"CAPF security arrangment outside strongroom has been made. Postal ballot counting and EVM vote counting to begin at 8:00 am and 8:30 am respectively, tomorrow. As soon as postal ballot counting ends, we will begin with the last round of EVM vote counting": BD Ram Tiwari, Additional CEO.

Soon after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that there was tampering with EVMs in Uttar Pradesh, the SP candidate from Hastinapur constituency Yogesh Verma, who was keeping an eye on EVM strong room with binoculars, shifted closer to the strong room and kept watch through the night."We are close to the EVM strong room and are guarding them 24 hours. Our hard work is locked in these EVMs. We have created a three-layered security system. The first layer is standing close to 200 meters to the place where the EVMs are kept," said Yogesh Verma on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Preparation for counting of votes for the recently concluded Punjab Assembly elections is currently underway.Counting of votes will take place for 14 Assembly constituencies in the Ludhiana district tomorrow. Speaking to news agency ANI, Deepjot Kaur, Returning Officer of Payal constituency said, "Preparations are being made by the administration for the counting of votes for the Punjab Assembly elections to be held on March 10 (tomorrow). Counting of votes will take place for 14 Assembly constituencies in Ludhiana district, for which 14 counting centres have been set up in city Ludhiana." "Three-tier security arrangements have been made in terms of security. CCTV cameras have also been installed as per the instructions of the Election Commission," she added.Punjab Assembly polls took place on February 20.Counting of votes in the recently concluded Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa will take place from tomorrow.

"Goans will give a mandate in our favour. Last time mandate was in our favour but leadership never thought that they (BJP) will try to form illegitimate government, that's why we delayed our decision which proved to be fatal. Won't take any chances this time. Given the circumstances, I feel no party- AAP, TMC, MGP would like to go to BJP. They had their experiences...10 people deserted us. This time party leadership said 'no entry' to defectors, no question of admitting them...See their fate tomorrow": Digambar Kamat, Congress

Hitting out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP said that raising questions on EVM is anti-democratic. The saffron party also said that the BJP did not question EVMs after the defeat in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and other states. SP chief Yadav has alleged malpractices before counting and said that a truck carrying EVMs had been intercepted by party workers in Varanasi while two other trucks managed to speed away. BJP national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh tweeted, "The very reaction by dynasts @yadavakhilesh & Jayant Choudhary to exit polls by accusing @ECISVEEP of EVM malpractices shows how separated they are from the real world. The sense of entitlement due to dynastic politics gives them the arrogance and anti democratic attitude." Party national general secretary C.T. Ravi without naming anyone tweeted, "Poor EVMs, they have to bear the brunt of Dynasts."

"The last time BJP manipulated the verdict of the people of Goa. This time we have taken all precautions to protect the mandate of the people. We are confident that we are forming the government with a majority", says Girish Chodankar, Goa Congress President.

"People will reject BJP in Goa. All our MLAs are together. We know of BJP's tactics of spreading rumours, using constitutional machinery to derail the people's mandate. Not a single Congress MLA will move, says Dinesh Gundu Rao, AICC Goa in-charge.

BJP delegation comprising Union Ministers Sh Dharmendra Pradhan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Anurag Thakur and Om Pathak will meet ECI today at 4:30 PM at Nirvachan Sadan.

In view of vote counting of UP Election 2022 on March 10, sale and operations of liquor prohibited in the state for the entire day on March 10. Action to be taken in case of violation: Excise Dept, UP Government

There are 11 Assembly seats in the district. 3-tier security will be in place for counting of votes. Section 144 is imposed in the district, processions are not allowed: Vinay Shankar Pandey, DM Haridwar

Rajya Sabha MP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijaypal Singh Tomar on Wednesday took a jibe at Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary for rejecting the prediction of exit polls, saying that one who doesn't cast his vote will naturally not see anyone conducting surveys near polling booths.Earlier rejecting the exit polls which predicted the BJP gaining majority in Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Chaudhary said, "I have never seen any person conducting exit polls at booths during polling. I do not agree with the exit polls."Slamming Chaudhary for not casting his vote, the BJP leader said that it is the responsibility of every citizen, especially politicians, to cast their votes. "Chaudhary did not cast his vote. This shows he is not a serious politician. He did not see anyone conducting exit polls as he did not go there," said the BJP leader.Rejecting the allegations of EVM tampering made by the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP leader said, "Opposition always does this. If they win everything is fine, if not they find fault with the EVM."

"We have adequate security measures in place at EVM strong room. Strong room will be opened around 7:00 am in the presence of election observers and candidates. Counting will begin at 8:00 am tomorrow. Police patrolling will be done in sensitive areas", says DK Thakur, Police Commissioner, Lucknow.

A day ahead of the counting of votes, the marginal players in the coastal state of Goa may emerge as kingmakers in case of a fractured mandate as predicted by the exit polls. While the Trinamool Congress is not commenting on the post-poll scenario, Ashok Tanwar, who was in Goa campaigning for the party, said, "The people want change, but the Congress is not able to give that alternative and the results will prove this. Our alliance in Goa will decide the course of action after the results are out." The Trinamool Congress is in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in Goa. But the Trinamool leaders are not sure about which way the MGP will move as the party has been more inclined towards the BJP and the Trinamool will not support any BJP move, sources said. The Congress is reaching out to smaller parties in Goa in case of a hung Assembly as the BJP has already started to strategise its operation. The Congress has sent Karnataka party chief D.K. Shivakumar to Goa to oversee post-poll operations in the state. The Congress is wary of the BJP overtures to smaller parties and independents. The party has reason to feel apprehensive as in 2017 despite being the single largest party the Congress could not form the government as the party could not decide between Digambar Kamat and Luizinho Falerio to be the Chief Minister. Now Falerio has moved to the Trinamool. Sources say that the Congress central leadership will reach out to parties like Trinamool, NCP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) while Shivakumar will talk to MLAs individually and try to manage the Congress flock in the state.

UP Election 2022: "For counting day (March 10), about 70,000 civil police workers, 245 company - paramilitary forces and 69 company PSE deployed. Action will be taken against those disturbing peace and also deployment in sensitive areas, pockets too", says Prashant Kumar, UP ADG (Law & Order).

A day ahead of the counting of the votes, Congress poll observer in Uttarakhand Mohan Prakash on Wednesday said that Chief Minister will be decided by the party high commands and elected MLAs."High command and (party) MLAs will decide (on CM face) after discussion...We are sure of forming govt in Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and getting majority numbers in Uttar Pradesh," said Prakash. His remarks came in the wake of Congress leader Harish Rawat saying that nobody in the party has any objections to his name as the Chief Ministerial candidate."I do politics of struggle, not power. The party has told me that the election campaign will be led by me. We are fighting to win the elections. Nobody in the party has any objections to my name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. No party member has expressed any objection to my name," Rawat said a day ahead of polling.Further, unleashing an attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Congress leader said, "The BJP has a habit of robbing the mandate. We saw it in the viral video that came from Varanasi yesterday where EVMs were seen shifting from one place to another." "When the mandate is not in their favour, they attempt (ballot) rigging. Our workers and senior party leaders are deployed in every district to keep an eye on EVM strong rooms and counting process," he added.The exit polls on Monday predicted a close race in Uttarakhand, with many of them giving an edge to the BJP to form the government in the state.Polling in Uttrakhand took place on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.

A case has been registered against former MP and Congress candidate Dr Rajesh Mishra, Pramod Krishnan, party spokesperson Mohan Prakash for using objectionable language on the people of Gujarat at Dashashwamedh police station, Varanasi. A report has been filed by FST Magistrate, Assistant Engineer PWD, after examining the video that went viral on Tuesday. According to Dashashwamedh Police Station Officer, Ashish Mishra, during the implementation of the code of conduct, a video was received on March 6, in which Congress candidate Dr Rajesh Kumar Mishra is seen using indecent language on the people of a particular state. During the investigation, it came to light that this video of March 5 is of Godowlia crossroads. Objectionable language was also used in the video by Pramod Krishnan, Rajesh Mishra and Mohan Prakash.

"I think no Punjabi believes the exit polls. Opinion polls and exit polls should be banned. EC monitors that voters aren't influenced, but nowadays some govts get opinion polls conducted using public money. AAP has done this": Shiromani Akali Dal President, Sukhbir Singh Badal, at Amritsar. 

"The real task is result declaration. EC has issued a counting schedule which will start at 8 am tomorrow, March 10. Thousands of our workers have been given round wise training. Counting is a systematic work requiring precision and patience": S Karuna Raju, CEO Punjab.

Sweet shops in Punjab are bracing for the Punjab poll outcome, readying tonnes of laddoos and other sweets to cater to the demands of the political parties who are making preparations for celebrations for tomorrow.A large number of candidates of various political parties have flooded the sweet shops with their orders for various kinds of ladoos.A sweet shop in Ludhiana prepared 'Jeet ke laddoos' (ladoos of victory), weighing about five kilograms each approximately.Narinder Singh, president of Punjab's Halwai Association, said, "This year, we have received orders of laddus in bulk to mark the victory of political parties in the recently held Assembly polls. We have deployed our trained staff members to prepare these special laddoos with care."Narinder's staff was busy making laddoos and packing them in decorative trays.Counting of votes in the recently concluded Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa will take place from tomorrow.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday rejected exit poll predictions and exuded confidence in his party's win in Goa with a majority."We are practical; Congress will lead in Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa. Our party will come to power with a majority in Goa," Shivakumar told ANI.The Congress leader also said that he will be in Goa to help his party members there. The multi-cornered contest in Goa could lead to a hung assembly verdict, some exit polls put the BJP ahead in Goa but as per others, Congress would emerge as the single-largest party close to the halfway mark. In Punjab, several surveys predicted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Delhi, getting a landslide victory. Most exit polls predicted that the ruling Congress will finish a distant second in the state followed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which had allied with Bahujan Samaj Party.The exit polls predicted a tight race in Uttarakhand with many of them giving an edge to the BJP in forming the government. Some exit polls also predicted that Congress would finish ahead and could cross the halfway mark in the 70-member assembly.The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

All licensed premises for the sale of liquor will remain closed on March 10, in view of the counting of votes for the recently held Assembly polls in Goa, according to an order issued by the district magistrate. "All the licensed premises for the sale of liquor shall remain closed from 00.00 hrs. Of March 10, till the end of counting of votes polled for General Assembly Election 2022," according to the order issued by the District Magistrate, North Goa.As per the DM's notification, restaurants and bars would be allowed to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks. "The licensed premises having a license for Bar and Restaurant are allowed to keep the Restaurant open for serving food only and the Bar counter shall be closed and no liquor shall be allowed to be served on the above mentioned days and time," the notification read.Bars and restaurants have been instructed to display a board on the premises stating that 'No Liquor will be served 'on the said days and time.

Nearly 23.20 lakh litres of liquor and around 18,000 kilograms of drugs were seized during the drive launched by the election commission to ensure compliance of the model code of conduct since the announcement of Assembly elections in the state in January. The enforcement agencies also recovered cash of more than Rs 103 crore from various places during electioneering. Chief electoral officer Ajay Kumar Shukla said, "The enforcement agencies seized 23,19,572 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 62.78 crore, 17,967 kg drugs worth Rs 48.61 crore, 429 kg of precious metals worth Rs 40.71 crore besides other items valued at Rs 94.10 crore since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on January 8." The code of conduct will come to end the counting of votes on March 10. The state administration also cancelled 2,080 arm licences and 2,190 FIRs were registered for violation of the code. "Apart from this, police recovered 10,277 arms, 10,625 cartridges, 323 explosives, 336 bombs and also seized 186 factories manufacturing illegal arms," Shukla said. The agencies also removed 1,40,51,364 items of poll publicity material from public and private places. Shukla said further legal action was being taken in all the cases pertaining to seizures of liquor, arms, etc.

Ahead of the counting of votes for the five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, BJP president JP Nadda on Tuesday said the party workers will see good results on Thursday. “The kind of work the workers from Madhya Pradesh have done in Uttar Pradesh and other states in the assembly elections is unparalleled. You all will see good results on March 10,” a party release quoted Nadda as saying. He addressed BJP's office-bearers for Madhya Pradesh and heads of frontal organisations here during his daylong visit to the state. Nadda praised the state BJP's booth-level expansion work and its digitization, which is 90% complete, it said. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, BJP organisation's state in-charge P Murlidhar Rao and state home minister Narottam Mishra were present on the occasion.

Ludhiana: Political parties in Punjab ordering laddoos before the results of Punjab Assembly elections. The counting of votes will be done on March 10, 2022.

As exit polls indicate a hung assembly in Goa, the BJP has started working on its 'plan B to cross the halfway mark in the state assembly. Meetings of senior BJP leaders have started in the national capital and in Mumbai on ways to secure a majority in case of a hung assembly in the state. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about the party's electoral chances. Sources said that later Sawant went to Mumbai to meet BJP election in-charge for Goa, Devendra Fadnavis and party state in-charge C.T. Ravi. "After meeting Fadnavis and Ravi, Sawant will come back to Delhi. The Goa chief minister is likely to meet party chief J P Nadda and home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday to discuss the strategy to form the government in the state if the BJP fails to get a simple majority," sources said. A senior Goa BJP functionary told IANS about talks with independents and smaller parties in Goa. "We are confident of winning a simple majority but in the worst case the party may require the support of two to four MLAs to form the next government in Goa. Talks have been started with independents and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)," he said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that Congress leaders can blow the trumpet just for a few days since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would again be forming the government in the state.Dhami slammed the Congress leaders for rejecting the predictions made by the exit polls which largely gave the state to the BJP."Congress was nowhere in the contest in the elections. They had no issues to raise before the people. Now that the elections are over they can blow the trumpet till the results are out since the BJP will be celebrating victory on March 10," said Dhami.Confident about the BJP's victory, Dhami quoted exit polls released by various agencies to back his claim."Most exit polls have shown the BJP government again forming in Uttarakhand. Our actual numbers will be more than what has been projected by the exit polls, and the party will form a majority government... People have given the certificate of the work done by the BJP in the state," he said.

Ahead of the results of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the state elections were the last chance to save democracy and after this, people would have to launch a movement to bring about change.Addressing a press conference here, the SP chief said, "What is the reason EVMs were transported without security? EVM cannot be moved from a warehouse without any information. EVM is being transported without candidates being informed. We need to be alert if EVMs are being transported this way. This is theft. We need to save our votes. We may go to court against it but before that, I want to appeal to people to save democracy. We have to save our votes. Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are our last chance to save democracy. 'Is ke baad toh janata ko kranti karni padegi'(after this, people would have to launch a movement to bring about change).""Exit polls want to create a perception that BJP is winning so that this kind of theft can be done. Samajwadi Party is winning Ayodhya that is why BJP is scared. Election Commission officials are tampering with EVMs," Yadav said.The SP chief also made similar allegations in a tweet."The reports of EVM being caught (transported) in Varanasi are a message to be alert in every constituency. To deal with any attempt of cheating during the counting of votes, the candidates of the Samajwadi Party and its allies should stay ready with their cameras. The youth should become soldiers during counting for the sake of democracy and their future," he said.SP workers staged a protest outside an EVM strong room in Varanasi's Pahariya Mandi area on Tuesday.Following this, Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma held a meeting with representatives of several political parties on Tuesday.

Hours after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that electronic voting machine (EVM) is being tampered and Varanasi district magistrate is transporting it without informing local candidates, UP State Election Commission has denied the allegation and said the EVMs shown in a video were for "training purpose".Earlier, Yadav had alleged that the state election commission officials are tampering with EVMs and Varanasi district magistrate is transporting them without informing the local candidates.Replying to this allegations, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), in a press release, said, "Some political parties have brought to our attention that a few EVMs were being transported in a vehicle in Varanasi district. On investigation, it was found that these EVMs were for training purpose. These EVMs were being taken to training locations at a college in the state on March 9, 2022 and were kept at a foodgrains warehouse. "

Ahead of the counting of votes in Uttarakhand, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Tuesday deployed senior Congress leaders in 13 districts of the state in order to coordinate with the party candidates.The Congress party has sent senior leaders including party MPs, AICC office-bearers, and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.The other leaders include Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, AICC Tripura in-charge Dr Ajoy Kumar, AICC secretary Szarita Liatphlang, National Spokesperson Prof Gaurav Vallabh, Jeetu Patwari, MB Patil, Jharkhand Health Minister Bana Gupta, AICC Uttarakhand in-charge Devender Yadav, Co-incharge Deepika Pandey Singh and AICC observer Mohan Prakash who have reached Dehradun.CM Baghel is expected to reach Dehradun on March 10.These leaders will be coordinating with the party candidates. After the results are announced, the newly elected MLAs will reach Dehradun to decide a future course of action with the senior leaders.Speaking to ANI, Mohan Prakash said, "BJP has tried to achieve a majority in small states by using the powers of the Governor and by spending money. They are planning to do the same in Uttarakhand. Their expert has already arrived here. But they will not get success as we are ready to deal with any situation and we are getting the full majority in the state." 

Following Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's allegations of electronic voting machines being manipulated, Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday said Opposition parties will never accept that people have rejected their hooliganism.Speaking to ANI, Pathak said, "Samajwadi Party and all the opposition parties will never accept the manner in which they have fought elections involving mafias and hooliganism. People of the state rejected their hooliganism. Bharatiya Janata Party is forming the government with a thumping majority.""Exit poll results are showing 250 -240 seats for BJP now. But when counting starts, we will go beyond 300. We will return to power again with a thumping majority like the margin we had in 2017," he added.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Thakur, said on Tuesday that the BJP will retain power in Uttar Pradesh with thumping majority due to the 'MY' (Modi-Yogi) factor. Thakur, BJP's election co-incharge for Uttar Pradesh, said, "In UP, the 'MY' factor is working. It is not an old 'MY' factor. It is the (Nareendra) Modi and Yogi (Adityanath) factor. History has been created under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. And for the first time after the 90s, due to Modi government's schemes, history will be created as no government served successive terms in Uttar Pradesh in the last 32 years." Talking to the media at Una in Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said that during the elections, Samajawadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav understood that people are not with SP. "Wait for March 10... Akhilesh (Yadav) has started saying that EVMs are unfaithful even before the results are announced," Thakur said.