It's curtains to the massive poll exercise in Uttar Pradesh and focus now shifts to counting of votes on March 11. Forty seats spread across seven districts went to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017. Three Naxal-affected districts — Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli, along with the five Assembly segments under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, were in the limelight in this phase. Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Bhadoi are the other districts.
Here are the live updates:
6.20 p.m.: U.P. polls conclude with an estimated 60.03% turnout in the in seventh and final phase of the Assembly elections. Final turnout and overall voting percentage for all phases are awaited. The turnout for these seats was 57.92% in the 2012 Assembly polls. The average turnout in the seven phases has been 60-61% compared to 59.48% in 2012.
4.20 p.m.: Around 56 per cent of the 1.41 crore voters exercised their franchise till 4 p.m. in the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh elections covering 40 Assembly seats spread over seven districts.
2:30 p.m.: The office of the U.P. Chief Electoral Officer says over 41% votes have been polled till 2 p.m. “The polling is going on peacefully,” it adds. The five constituencies falling under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency see 37.88% turnout and that of the Naxal-infested Mirzapur district is 42.5% till 2 p.m., according to the the U.P. CEO office.
12: 30 p.m.: Over 26% votes were polled till noon for the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh elections today. “Over 26% votes were polled till 12 noon. The polling is going on peacefully,” office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.
PM’s constituency saw 23.76 % polling while Naxal infested Mirzapur had 26.63 % polling till 11 AM, they said
11: 30 a.m.: After all the key players talked about notching up 300 plus of the 403 seats, talks of a hung house suddenly gained momentum in the last phases of polling with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself flagging the possibility of a hung assembly in the state.
10:45 a.m.: Polling will be held till 5 p.m. in all constituencies, except the Naxal-hit Duddhi, Robertsganj and Chakia seats, where polling will end at 4 PM.
10:15 a.m.: Over 13% votes were polled in the first three hours of the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh elections today in 40 Assembly seats spread over seven districts. Polling started amidst tight security arrangements this morning with all eyes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi. “Over 13 per cent votes were polled till 10 AM. The polling is going on peacefully,” office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said here.
8:14 a.m.: In all, 535 candidates, including BSP (40), BJP (32), SP (31), Cong (9), RLD 21, and NCP (5) are in the fray. While the maximum number of 24 candidates are from Varanasi Cantt seat, the minimum number of 6 candidates are contesting from Kerakat (SC).
The turnout on these seats in 2012 was 57.92 per cent in 2012 Assembly polls.
8:00 a.m.: As the end of the long, multi-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh is now in sight, the BJP awaits not just the outcome of the polls but also the results of its social engineering strategy. Much rides on the strategy, which, if successful, could be a model for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The strategy can be summed up from the images in the party’s posters across the State — Prime Minister Narendra Modi with party president Amit Shah, State unit president Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra.
7:45 a.m.: The BJP is contesting 32 seats and its allies — the Apana Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party — are contesting on 4 seats each. The BSP has fielded its nominees for all seats. While the SP is contesting 31 seats, its ally the Congress is in race for the remaining seats.
7:30 a.m.: A total of 1.41 crore voters, including 64.76 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise in 14,458 polling booths and 8,682 polling centres to decide fate of 585 candidates, including 51 women. Three Naxal-affected districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli, along with the five Assembly segments under Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, will be in prime focus.
7:15 a.m.: Prominent candidates who are in fray include former Cabinet minister Om Prakash, Parasnath Yadav, Ajay Rai, former MP Dhananjay Singh, Sigbatullah Ansari brother of Mukhtar Ansari and Seema Singh wife of jailed mafia Munna Bajrangi.
