Jaunpur, 23 Oct (HS): Voting for the Uttar Pradesh

Legislative Council's Varanasi Division Graduate and Teacher Constituency began

at 8 a.m. on Friday. A total of 67,172 voters from both constituencies in the

district are exercising their franchise. Ninety polling stations have been set

up for the voting. Rajya Sabha MP Vidyasagar Sonkar reached the polling station

in the Collectorate complex and exercised his franchise.

Speaking after casting his vote, Vidyasagar Sonkar said that

BJP candidates Kedarnath Singh is contesting from the Varanasi Division

Graduate Constituency and Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra from the Teachers

Constituency. The party is fully committed to ensuring the victory of both

candidates. He said that the people wish that both BJP candidates win and reach

the Upper House.

Regarding the opposition's allegations against the Election

Commission and the demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner

Gyanesh Kumar, he said the opposition has no issues. The Election Commission is

carrying out its work impartially and transparently. He added that there is no

question of removing the Election Commissioner.

Rejecting the opposition's allegations of votes being

deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, Sonkar

said that this process is meant to update the voter list. Voters who have died

or are not voters should be removed from the list. He said that periodic

updating of the voter list is necessary to ensure the actual number of voters.

He said that elections for graduate and teacher constituencies

are of a different nature. Asked about the impact of the voter list revision on

upcoming elections, he said the Election Commission is doing its job and

elections across the country are being conducted fairly and transparently.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi