Officials clarified that eligible persons can still fill out the prescribed forms to become voters. Varanasi: The process of filing nominations for the election to the Legislative Council’s Graduate and Teachers constituencies started at the divisional commissioner’s office compound on Tuesday.
The candidate must be at least 30 years old. The security deposit is Rs 5,000 for SC/ST candidates and Rs 10,000 for others. Candidates must submit Form 26, containing details of criminal cases and movable and immovable assets, on Rs 10 stamp paper through a notarised affidavit. The Graduate constituency has 63,941 voters and 73 polling stations, with eight auxiliary booths proposed, taking the total to 81 booths at 21 centres. The Teachers constituency has 7,478 voters and will retain 21 polling stations. Eligible graduates and teachers not yet enrolled may apply through Forms 18 and 19.
The notification for filling the vacancies arising due to the completion of the tenure of Varanasi Division Graduate constituency member Ashutosh Sinha and Teachers constituency member Lal Bihari Yadav on Dec 6 was issued by the divisional commissioner on Tuesday, according to the schedule issued by the Election Commission . Both these elections from the Varanasi Teachers and Graduate constituencies were won by Samajwadi Party candidates Lal Bihari Yadav and Ashutosh Sinha. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also released its list, declaring former MLCs Pramod Mishra and Kedar Singh as its candidates, although both had lost the previous election.
Additional commissioner (administration) and assistant returning officer Alok Kumar Verma said candidates must be Indian citizens, should not be disqualified by the commission, and their names should be included in any Assembly electoral roll of Uttar Pradesh. Ten proposers, who must be voters in the concerned Legislative Council electoral roll, are required. Party candidates must submit authorisation in the prescribed forms. Meanwhile, DM and assistant returning officer Satyendra Kumar held a meeting with recognised political parties regarding polling stations. Bulk submission by any party or organisation will not be accepted; only family members may submit forms on behalf of their family. The SP has retained them for this election as well.
For the Graduate constituency, nine forms were procured by aspirants, while five forms for the Teachers constituency were also taken on Tuesday.