Varanasi MLC Polls: Counting Begins Amid High Tension and Tight Security
Counting begins for Varanasi graduate and teacher MLC seats. SP and BJP clash as 34 candidates await results amid security alerts.
The political atmosphere in Varanasi has reached a fever pitch as the Varanasi MLC vote counting officially commenced at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Located at Pahadiya Mandi, the counting center has become the epicenter of political anticipation, with the fates of 34 candidates hanging in the balance for the graduate and teacher constituencies.
The Scale of the Election
This election represents a massive democratic exercise involving 3,23,447 registered voters. The reach of these constituencies extends across eight key districts, ensuring a broad representation of the region's intellectual and educational community:
- Varanasi
- Chandauli
- Ghazipur
- Jaunpur
- Mirzapur
- Sonbhadra
- Bhadohi
- Ballia
Election officials have implemented a meticulous process, retrieving ballots from secure strong rooms to begin the tally. Separate arrangements have been established to ensure the counting for the graduate and teacher seats remains distinct and organized.
Allegations and Unrest
The lead-up to the counting has not been without drama. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the process. Supporters of the party staged protests at Pahadiya Mandi on Sunday and Monday nights, alleging that the security of the ballots was compromised.
The SP claimants alleged that CCTV cameras were intentionally turned off and that electricity was repeatedly cut at the facility, hinting at potential irregularities. However, these claims remain independently unverified.
Fort Knox-Style Security
To counter any potential disruptions and ensure a fair process, the administration has turned the counting site into a fortress. Following the polls, all ballot boxes from the eight districts were stored in the Pahadiya Mandi strong room, guarded around the clock by 27 personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
Varuna DCP Rajesh Pandey has made it clear that there will be zero tolerance for chaos. He stated that entry to the counting site is strictly limited to those holding valid passes. Furthermore, the entire operation is being monitored via CCTV, and Pandey warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to obstruct the proceedings.
The Battle for the Seats
The competition is split between two primary categories, with the graduate seat seeing the most crowded field:
The Graduate Constituency
With 24 candidates in the fray, the graduate seat is the primary battleground. The spotlight is firmly on the clash between the incumbent Samajwadi Party MLC, Ashutosh Sinha, and former BJP MLC Kedarnath Singh.
The history of this seat suggests a tight race. In the 2020 elections, Ashutosh Sinha emerged victorious with 26,335 votes, while Kedarnath Singh trailed with 22,685 votes. The Samajwadi Party is currently fighting to maintain its hold on this seat for a third consecutive term.
The Teacher Constituency
While less crowded than the graduate race, the teacher seat remains highly competitive, with 10 candidates vying for the position.