GB Nagar, Ghaziabad: All eyes on 2 NCR seats as they vote in April

AS THE state gears up for the Lok Sabha election next month, all eyes will be on two constituencies of NCR: Gautam Buddha Nagar (GBN) and Ghaziabad, which comprise 10 Vidhan Sabhas of Uttar Pradesh. Heading to vote in the second phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polls on April 26, the constituencies are significant for two reasons: They are the economic drivers of the state and also strategically important due to their proximity to the national capital.

Manish Kumar Verma, returning officer and GBN District Magistrate, said a total of 641 polling centres and 1,826 polling booths have been created in the district. A total of 100 polling booths will be set up in the highrises of the district, he added.

As per data released by the district administration, there are a total of 26.20 lakh registered voters in Gautam Buddha Nagar constituency, which comprises Noida, Dadri, Jewar, Sikandrabad (Bulandshahr) and Khurja (Bulandshahr) Vidhan Sabha.

Similarly, there are 29.02 lakh registered voters in Ghaziabad constituency, which comprises Loni, Muradnagar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad and Dhaulana (Hapur) Vidhan Sabha. In total, more than 55 lakh people in these two constituencies are expected to vote. (see box)

“A candidate can spend a maximum Rs 95 lakh on rallies, office vehicles, personnel, building rent, electricity, publicity material etc... During the election, the candidate has to maintain three registers (A, B & C) to record the expenditure," said the DM, while addressing the representatives of political parties.

“If political parties are to be criticised, it will be limited to their policies and programmes, past records and work. No appeal will be made on the basis of caste and sect sentiments. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship will not be used as platforms for election campaigns,” said Verma, also the district election officer.

As per data, there are a total of 10.08 lakh men and 8.22 lakh women voters and 102 persons of the third gender in GBN district. In Ghaziabad, there are 15.54 lakh male voters, 12.60 lakh female voters and 186 of the third gender. A total of 3,197 polling stations have been created in Ghaziabad constituency.

Officials said there are 589 vulnerable and critical polling stations in Ghaziabad and 342 in Gautam Buddha Nagar.