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Uttar Pradesh elections: Final phase of polling records 60% voter turnout
The average turnout in the seven phases of polling that began on February 11 has been around 60-61% compared to 59.48% in 2012.
Over 60% of the 1.41 crore voters on Wednesday exercised their franchise in the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 40 seats, bringing down the curtain on a gruelling two-month-long process.
“60.03% votes were polled till 5pm,” Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer T Venkatesh said.
The turnout for these seats was 57.92% in the last assembly polls in 2012.
The average turnout in the seven phases of polling that began on February 11 has been around 60-61% compared to 59.48% in 2012.
The poll percentage in the first phase was 64.22, in the second 65.16, third phase 61.16, fourth phase 60.37, fifth phase 57.37 and sixth phase 57.03.
No untoward incident was reported from the three constituencies in the Maoist-affected districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli.
All eyes were on the assembly segments in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, where the turnout was 60.95% till 5 PM.
Polling started amid tight security arrangements in seven districts on Wednesday morning.
Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Bhadoi are the other districts where polling was held.
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In Jaunpur, BJP candidate from Jafarabad seat Harendra Pratap Singh and four others were arrested for allegedly taking voters to polling booths in two vehicles.
Singh, however, denied the charge.
The counting of votes in UP will be taken up on March 11, along with four other states -- Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, where assembly polls were held.
