Phase 2 of Lok Sabha 2024 polls: 8 seats in Uttar Pradesh vote today

by Manisha Das

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Political leaders in Uttar Pradesh, including BJP leader Atul Garg, BJP's MP Tejveer Singh and Congress candidate Danish Ali were among those who voted on Friday during the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Lucknow, April 26: Political leaders in Uttar Pradesh, including BJP leader Atul Garg, BJP's MP Tejveer Singh and Congress candidate Danish Ali were among those who voted on Friday during the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Garg, the BJP candidate from Ghaziabad expressed happiness and stated that voting is an opportunity to serve the nation. "I have cast my vote today. I am feeling very good. I will visit the constituency now. To vote is an opportunity to serve the nation," Garg told ANI.

BJP MP Tejveer Singh cast his vote in Mathura in the state today.

Congress candidate from Amroha, Danish Ali, while speaking to ANI, expressed confidence in winning the Lok Sabha election from Amroha parliamentary constituency.

"The trend is clear that people are voting to change the government. In this second phase of elections, we are confident that the people of Amroha will give me their blessings. People are troubled due to unemployment and inflation. There was a complaint of EVM malfunction, which was fixed," Ali said.

Notably, Danish Ali is the sitting MP from the state's Amroha parliamentary constituency .

Uttar Pradesh voted today on eight parliamentary constituencies in Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr

According to the Election Commission of India, voting began at 7 am on Friday in 88 constituencies across 13 states and union territories for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to the polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

There are 8.08 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters among the electorate who will decide the fate of candidates. As many as 5,929 third-gender electors will also exercise their franchise in the second phase of the polls.

The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase of the election will be held on May 7.

(ANI)

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal bats for Hybrid pitches in India

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Dharamshala, May 6: The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium on Monday witnessed an unveiling of India’s first-ever hybrid pitch.

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and Paul Taylor, former England international cricketer and SIS’s International Cricket Director along with other dignitaries from HPCA were present on the occasion.

"I'm thrilled to witness the inauguration of India’s first SISGrass hybrid pitch at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. This remarkable development showcases the progressive spirit that is driving Indian cricket forward. By adopting innovative solutions like the ICC-approved hybrid pitches, we aren’t just ensuring a sustainable future for the sport, but also building another avenue for growth," Dhumal said at the event.

He further said, "The HPCA's relentless commitment to advancements like introducing SISGrass Hybrid Pitches, LED Flood Lights, and the SIS Air System demonstrates their leadership in creating a world-class cricketing infrastructure. Adopting these latest innovations will ensure Indian cricket can seal its position as a global sporting powerhouse, while also setting a template for other countries to follow."

The hybrid pitch consists of polymer fibre with the natural turf inside cricket stadiums and pitches. This composition is more resilient to stresses created during play, helps to prolong the life of pitches, guarantees an even bounce, and eases pressure on busy groundskeepers. The completed installations are still predominantly natural grass, with only 5% polymer fibre used. This ensures that the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained

Taylor, SIS's International Cricket Director, said, "We extend our sincere appreciation to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for collaborating with us on this pioneering project. We are pleased to announce the successful installation and implementation of hybrid cricket pitches at the iconic Dharamshala Stadium.

"As a BCCI-approved initiative, this encourages us to set the stage for further explorations of hybrid pitches in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. We aim to expand opportunities that strengthen cricket at the grassroots level for more participation and ensure that our pitches can endure the game's rigours."

The 'Universal Machine', used in Dharamshala to install the hybrid surface, was first developed by SISGrass in 2017. It has already demonstrated its effectiveness in the UK where it was used to install SISGrass at almost every County ground in England, including internationally recognised venues like Lord’s, The KIA Oval, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and Trent Bridge.

The machine will then be moved to Mumbai and Ahmedabad to create more pitches for practice and matches. Once the first three installations are complete, the machine will remain in India and be immediately available to other grounds and facilities as projects are approved.