Liquor sale banned in Uttar Pradesh on March 10 in view of election result

New Delhi: Sale and any operations of the liquor will be banned in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday (March 10) in view of counting of votes for the Assembly Elections result, the excise department announced.

The decision comes just a day ahead of the election result day.

As per the Excise Department announcement, those who will be found in violation of the code will be eligible for strict actions.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that there was tampering with EVMs in Uttar Pradesh after a an EVM-laden truck was found in Varanasi.

The SP candidate from Hastinapur constituency Yogesh Verma, who was keeping an eye on EVM strong room with binoculars, shifted closer to the strong room and kept watch through the night.

"We are close to the EVM strong room and are guarding them 24 hours. Our hard work is locked in these EVMs. We have created a three-layered security system. The first layer is standing close to 200 meters to the place where the EVMs are kept," said Yogesh Verma on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

"They (BJP) will try to tamper with EVMs to manipulate the result on the basis of fake exit polls predictions they have issued. Even Akhilesh Yadav has said that even officers are involved in this scam. They will try to manipulate the EVMs as they know SP is winning the elections," the SP candidate alleged.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Police Commissioner DK Thakur has said that security arrangements around EVM strong rooms have been strengthened ahead of the counting of votes.

Voting for the seventh and last phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh was held on Monday.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

 So far, the exit polls have predicted a comfortable win for the BJP in the state.