Liquor shops will remain closed for two days in UP these days - here's the reason

Uttar Pradesh has declared October 23 and October 27 as dry days in view of the Legislative Council (MLC) elections, banning the sale and service of liquor across the state on both dates.

As per official order, liquor shops will remain closed on election day and counting day. Restrictions will also apply to bars, clubs, hotels and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages.

According to the order issued by District Judge Vishakh G., the restrictions are to facilitate the peaceful and smooth conduct of the election process. Elections for 11 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council are scheduled for October 23, with counting scheduled for October 27.

UP dry days: Which establishments will be affected?

Restrictions apply to domestic liquor stores, foreign liquor stores, beer stores, model stores, and composite liquor stores. Establishments selling bhang and toddy will also have to remain closed on specified days.

The ban applies to bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol. The order also applies to canteens operated by the armed forces and paramilitary forces.

All consumption license holders have been asked to ensure that their establishments remain closed on October 23 and 27, or refrain from serving liquor.

Violation of a dry day order may result in legal action

The district administration has warned of strict legal action against those who violate the restrictions. This includes selling liquor or keeping establishments open in violation of the order.

The administration also clarified that liquor retailers will not be entitled to compensation for business losses resulting from the mandatory closure.

The restrictions are aimed at preventing disruption and maintaining law and order during the polling and counting of the 11 MLC seats.

UP MLC Elections: Five graduate and six teaching constituencies

The elections include five graduate constituencies and six faculty constituencies. Voting will take place via ballots.

The post graduate constituencies are Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut and Allahabad-Jhansi. The teaching constituencies are Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly-Moradabad and Gorakhpur-Faizabad.

Unlike assembly elections, these MLC contests are limited to registered and eligible graduates and teachers depending on the electoral roll for the respective constituency. Thus, the voting process is different from a general election in which all eligible registered voters can participate.

BJP and Samajwadi Party campaign for MLC seats

The election saw campaigns by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) for their respective candidates.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed rallies in support of BJP candidates in several places including Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Agra, Mirzapur and Bareilly. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak along with state ministers and BJP MLAs also participated in the campaign.

In the previous MLC elections for these 11 seats, the Samajwadi Party won six seats while the BJP secured five.