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Voting underway in UP bypolls amid EVM snags and scuffles (Third Lead)

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Lucknow, May 28 (IANS) Amid complaints of dysfunctional electronic voting machines (EVMs) and scuffle, 41.3 per cent polling was recorded in the Kairana parliamentary bypolls and 45 per cent in the Noorpur assembly bypolls till 3 p.m on Monday, officials said.

After a slow start, voting picked up as the day progressed.

The maximum polling in Kairana was recorded in the Thana Bhawan assembly constituency where 24 per cent voters had cast their votes, followed by Kairana (23), Nakud (21) and Gangoh (19.8).

There were reports of firing in Bhura village and skirmishes between supporters of the opposition-supported Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Mriganka Singh, daughter of late Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

Heavy security deployment has been made at all sensitive booths and District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh and police chief Devranjan Verma have been personally monitoring the situation and progress of polling by visiting many booths themselves, said a poll panel official.

Speaking to media persons after casting her vote, BJP candidate Singh expressed confidence of her victory, while UP minister Suresh Rana said that good governance and development would win against “communal and divisive forces”.

Hasan, after casting her vote at the Jain Dharamshala, however said that EVMs were being tampered with at many places by the ruling BJP.

Both the RLD and the BJP have filed complaints alleging that over 100 voting machines were malfunctioning.

In a letter accessed by IANS, the BJP told the Election Commission that a large number of EVMs were out of order forcing hundreds of voters to wait outside polling booths in the scorching heat.

It also put the reason for the sluggish pace of voting on the EVM malfunctions and said that booth officers have refused to accept their complaints.

Singh is counting on the sympathy wave in the name of her father and the Yogi Adityanath government, while Hasan is pinning her hopes on the opposition unity as the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Nishad Party, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have extended their support to her.

Kairana’s electorate comprises 16,09,628 voters – 8,73,120 men, 7,36,431 women and 77 of the third gender.

Polling was also underway in Noorpur assembly poll, where BJP’s Avni Singh is pitted against Naimul Hasan of the SP. Here, EVM snags were reported from 50 polling stations.

Noorpur’s electorate comprises 3,06,226 men, 1,41,924 women and 10 from the third gender.

According to the Election Commission, there are 2,056 polling booths and 1,094 polling centres for the bypolls, and to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections, it has deputed three general observers and two expenditure observers, besides 53 companies of the para-military forces and 10 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary.

All the 2,651 EVMs being used in the two bypolls have VVPAT machines to enable the voter to see for whom he or she has voted, the official told IANS.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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