Lucknow turns into fortress as counting begins

Lucknow: All roads leading to the residence of Uttar Pradesh Governor B L Joshi, who may take the centrestage in the event of a hung assembly, were barricaded as vote count began on Tuesday.

According to senior police officers, major traffic diversions have been put in place in the city, with all major roads leading to the Raj Bhawan sealed.

Extra security and traffic personnel have been deputed on Vikramaditya Marg which houses the residence of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party office.

Security is also up at Chief Minister Mayawati's residence at Mall Avenue and Kalidas Marg and at the offices of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Sadhna Goswami said that the traffic diversions were part of an overall police plan to keep the crowds at bay from "crucial and vantage points" during vote count.

Election Commission and police officials earlier on Monday chalked out an elaborate security plan for the vote count.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in most parts of the sprawling state banning the assembly of five or more people.

And with Holi just a day away, security has been spruced up, a senior official said.

"Water-tight security will be in place during and after the vote count and we are confident everything will go on smoothly," Deputy Inspector General of Police D K Thakur said.

A heavy police posse has been in place in and around the counting centres where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been kept since March 3 when the staggered balloting concluded in the state.

CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor every movement inside and in the vicinity of the vote counting venues.

Superintendent of Police Sureshwar Singh said that every assembly seat would have a Circle Officer and one inspector to monitor the situation.

Thirteen Circle Officers, 13 inspectors, 100 sub-inspectors, 700 constables and three companies of paramilitary forces has been deputed at the polytechnic where the counting began.

Vote count for the 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh is likely to be completed by Tuesday noon.