UP assembly polls: Union minister Ajay Misra Teni casts vote amid heavy security in Lakhimpur Kheri

Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni, whose son is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, cast his vote in the fourth phase of UP assembly polls at a polling station in Nighasan constituency amid heavy police and paramilitary personnel deployment.

Visuals showed Ajay Misra pushing and shoving to get ahead as a large number of policemen formed a barrier between him and mediapersons. The minister flashed a "V" (for victory) sign as reporters shouted questions about his son Ashish Misra, who is out on bail after being accused of running over protesting farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri last year. He did not speak to the media.

Lakhimpur Kheri district logged the highest voter turnout at 63.47 per cent, followed by Pilibhit, where 61.42 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

In 2017, the BJP won all eight assembly seats in Lakhimpur, in a campaign led by Ajay Misra Teni, a Brahmin face who is a strongman and among the party’s most influential leaders in UP. But now it seems all eight seats are witnessing a tough contest between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party.

A cabinet minister, Misra made headlines in October 2021 when eight people, including four farmers, were killed during violence in the Tikunia area in his native district of Lakhimpur Kheri. It was alleged that the farmers were mowed down by the car in which his son Ashish was travelling.

READ | Lakhimpur Kheri case: Ashish Misra’s bail challenged in Supreme Court

India Today spoke to people who turned out to vote. They said the issue of stray cattle eating crops is hitting farmers where it hurts the most. Some said the administration has done nothing despite the being prone to floods. The issue of outstanding sugarcane dues is also weighing on farmers’ minds.

FEVIKWIK IN EVM

In another incident, a ruckus erupted after Fevikwik (adhesive) was put on a voting button on an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the Kadipur Sani area of Lakhimpur Kheri.

SP candidate from Lakhimpur Sadar Utkarsh Verma complained that miscreants had put Fevikwik on the first polling button on the EVM -- which happened to be the cycle symbol of the SP. As a result, the button got stuck and voting was halted. The EVM was replaced after which voting resumed at the polling booth.

Chief Electoral Officer BR Tiwari said the Election Commission took note of the incident and a case has been filed.

READ | UP election: Villagers boycott polls over stray cattle issue in Banda district