By-Polls Election 2024 Live Updates: Clashes break out between BJP and SP workers at Kanpur polling booth

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday demanded suspension of the SHOs of Kakrouli and Ibrahimpur areas in Uttar Pradesh alleging that they were stopping voters from voting in the bypolls.The SP chief shared a video from Kakrouli area in Meerapur assembly seat which showed a police official dressed in riot gear showing gun to some women. Tagging Election Commission in a post on X, Akhilesh Yadav wrote: "Election Commission should immediately suspend SHO of Kakrouli police station area of Meerapur because he is stopping voters from casting their votes by threatening them with a revolver."

Total voter turnout in the Kedarnath by-election reached 56.78% by 5:00 PM, according to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttarakhand.

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav criticised the Election Commission and the administration over the handling of the ongoing bypolls.

"As per the information we are receiving, the Election Commission has supported us to some extent, but a lot more is still left. The kind of atmosphere created by the administration raises question because they have worked against the democracy," Yadav said.

Addressing allegations about a woman's murder in Karhal, she added, "If you listen to SP Mainpuri's statement, you will get to know that there was nothing related to polls. Both the accused have been arrested."

Congress MP KL Sharma weighed in on the Samajwadi Party's allegations of violence at polling booths, criticising the Election Commission for its handling of the situation.

"Every party is talking on the Election Commission. It is a constitutional body but they are not doing their duty properly. They don't give time to our delegations to meet, even though every party should be able to meet them to raise their concerns," Sharma said.

Addressing the ruckus at a Kanpur polling station, Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar said, “We have received a complaint. We have asked them (BJP candidate) to file an FIR. Legal action would be taken.”

On the suspension of five police personnel for allegedly violating Election Commission guidelines, Kumar said, “We had information that some police personnel were not following the guidelines of the EC. Action has been taken against them. Voting is going on smoothly. We had information that people from outside had entered the constituency. Appropriate security arrangements were made seeing to that. The suspension was done after we took cognizance of the tweet (by Samajwadi Party).”

Polling for by-elections across nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a gradual rise in voter turnout, reaching an average of 41.92% by 3 pm on Wednesday. Voting began at 7 am across constituencies including Katehari, Karhal, Ghaziabad, and Phulpur. Kundarki recorded the highest turnout at 50.03%, while Ghaziabad lagged with 27.44%. Voters cited inflation, unemployment, law and order, and development as key issues. The elderly and physically challenged were among those casting their votes.

Amid complaints by the Samajwadi Party about voter suppression by police, the Election Commission suspended several police personnel in Kanpur and Muzaffarnagar. The BJP also raised concerns about identity verification for burqa-clad women. With 90 candidates in the fray, results from the bypolls, which mark the first electoral test after the Lok Sabha elections, will not affect the state assembly’s power balance, where the BJP holds a majority with 251 seats.

Tensions flared at the Kanpur Government Inter College polling booth as BJP and Samajwadi Party workers clashed following allegations of a stone being thrown at the BJP candidate's car. The incident led to chaos, with BJP supporters staging a dharna outside the booth and raising slogans against their rivals.

The altercation disrupted the polling process, drawing attention from election officials and local authorities. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, and further details are awaited.

This confrontation underscores the heated atmosphere surrounding the elections, with party workers clashing over accusations of provocation and misconduct.

A clash erupted between Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers at a polling booth in Dera Pathana, Punjab, during the by-elections on Wednesday. Voting is currently underway for the Dera Baba Nanak Assembly seat.

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa urged voters to participate peacefully in the election. He condemned the violence, stating that "some goons attempted to capture the booth and cause disruptions, and one of them was arrested." He called for a peaceful election process, emphasizing the need for unity and urging voters to support Congress to end such hooliganism.

3 cops suspended in Moradabad, 2 in Kanpur, 2 in Muzaffarnagar
Accused of harassing voters by checking their IDs.
SP President Akhilesh Yadav had lodged complained to ECI
Policemen suspended on EC's instructions after complaint.

During voting at the GIC polling booth in Kanpur, allegations surfaced of stone-pelting on BJP candidate Suresh Awasthi's vehicle. The incident sparked protests from BJP supporters, who claimed that their vehicle was targeted by stones thrown by Socialist Party members.

Acting on complaints, the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered suspension of police personnel violating its guidelines on checking of voters and stopping them from casting votes in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls, officials said. This comes after SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the EC to suspend all police officers who are checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs on basis of video evidence. Acting on the Commission's directions, district election officers and superintendents of police, after verifying the complaints, have suspended the police personnel for their conduct. Taking cognisance of the complaints on social media by the Samajwadi Party that some communities were prevented from voting during the bypolls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar gave strict instructions to chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh and all district election officers and returning officers to ensure fair and smooth voting process.

• Katehari : 36.54%
• Ghaziabad : 20.92%
• Sishamau : 28.5%
• Majhawan : 31.68%
• Meerapur : 36.77%
• Khair (SC) : 28.80%
• Phulpur : 26.67%
• Kundarki : 40.01%
• Karhal: 32.29%

On by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, UP Minister Sanjay Nishad says, "The candidates of NDA are going to win with a huge majority. The public is voting for us on the basis of the promises we made. Others have united to stop the progress of the country...We need to have faith in democracy and ECI. It is an independent agency"

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "...Ever since the voting started, complaints have been coming in...regarding different Assembly constituencies...We have lodged multiple complaints. It seems that the senses of Election Commission have dulled. It can neither see nor hear despite so many complaints. BJP wants to win these by-elections not by vote but by 'khot'. Fearing a defeat, BJP is pressuring the administration to indulge in foul play."

Voters at booth number 360 in Aoncha Chamanrishi U.M.V. School, Karhal Assembly, faced delays as they waited for over an hour to cast their votes due to a malfunctioning electronic voting machine (EVM).

Polling for the Kedarnath Assembly by-election in Uttarakhand began at 7am on Wednesday.

The seat, located in Rudraprayag district, fell vacant following the passing of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat in July.

Six candidates are contesting, with the spotlight on BJP’s Asha Nautiyal and Congress’s Manoj Rawat, who are expected to be in a direct face-off.

A total of 173 polling booths have been set up across the constituency, with CCTV surveillance installed in 130 booths to ensure a smooth and secure voting process.

In Kerala's Palakkad Assembly by-poll, voter turnout began at a modest 1.11% by 8am, rising to 6.76% by 8.30am, according to the Election Commission. Early morning voters were seen at the 184 polling booths across the constituency, which has over 1.9 lakh eligible voters.

The election will decide among 10 candidates, with key contenders being Rahul Mamkootathil from the Congress-led UDF, C. Krishnakumar from the BJP-led NDA, and P. Sarin from the CPI(M)-led LDF.

4 Assembly constituencies in Punjab—Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), and Barnala—are up for by-polls.

The contests in these constituencies are being seen as an opportunity for parties to gauge their standing among voters ahead of upcoming elections.

Nine Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, including Meerapur, Ghaziabad, and Phulpur, are witnessing intense political battles.

The by-elections are particularly important for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which suffered a major setback in the state during the last elections, winning only 36 out of 80 seats.

Voting has begun in 15 Assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. These by-polls are being closely monitored as they carry significant political implications for the parties involved.

Voters have started arriving at polling stations early, with election officials ensuring a smooth and orderly process.