Agra Re-Polls: Violence and Booth Capturing Trigger Fresh Voting
Re-polling is underway at three booths in Agra after reports of violence and booth capturing during the UP Legislative Council elections.
Following reports of chaos and irregularities, Agra Legislative Council re-polling commenced on Monday, October 26, 2026. The Election Commission of India (ECI) stepped in to void previous votes at three specific booths after serious allegations of violence and booth capturing surfaced, ensuring that the democratic process is restored for the affected voters.
Why Was the Re-Poll Ordered?
The decision to scrap the initial voting conducted on October 23 came after complaints were lodged by Dr. Akash Agarwal, a candidate from the Samajwadi Party. The allegations pointed toward significant irregularities that compromised the integrity of the polls.
Invoking Section 58A(2)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission declared the previous results at these locations void. The ECI had previously demanded a thorough investigation into the lapses, requiring a detailed report by October 25 to identify those responsible for the disturbances.
The Areas Affected and Voting Schedule
The re-polling exercise is concentrated in three specific booths located in:
- Fatehabad
- Kheragarh
- Saiyan
Voting is scheduled to take place today from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. To facilitate the process, Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Nagendra Pratap announced that special casual leave has been granted to voters registered in the relevant electoral rolls, ensuring they can cast their ballots without professional hindrance.
Tight Security and Administration
To prevent a repeat of the previous unrest, the administration has deployed heavy security. Additional Police Commissioner Sachindra Patel personally inspected the booths alongside the District Magistrate to ensure everything was in order. Meanwhile, Additional DCP Manoj Kumar was tasked with supervising the security arrangements specifically at the Kheragarh center.
Navdeep Rinwa, the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, emphasized that the entire exercise is being conducted in strict adherence to the commission's guidelines to maintain transparency and peace.
The Bigger Picture: Voter Statistics and Counting
The scale of the election is significant, with the Divisional Commissioner noting the following voter distributions:
- Teachers' Constituency: 50,000 voters
- Graduates' Constituency: 1.80 lakh voters
With the re-polling concluding today, the focus now shifts to the final tally. The counting of votes is scheduled to begin on October 27 at 8:00 AM. To ensure a swift and organized process, 14 counting tables have been arranged for each of the two constituencies.