The voting in this phase will span 12 districts, including the major urban centres of Kanpur and Lucknow, and the SP’s core support region of Kannauj, Etawah, Mainpuri and Farukkhabad. The districts of Hardoi, Auraiya, Barabanki, Sitapur Unnao and Kanpur Rural will also vote in this phase. A total of 2.41 crore voters, including 1.10 crore women, will decide the fate of 826 candidates.
Latest Updates
7.10 p.m.: PTI reports: Election Commission announces record seizure of ₹38.40 crore cash and 2.04 lakh litres of liquor during this phase.
6.15 p.m.: PTI reports — 61.16% turnout in phase 3 of the U.P. elections and voting by and large peaceful, says U.P. CEO T. Venkatesh. The exercise was held by and large peacefully in this phase, he says, adding tight security arrangements were put in place at all the 25,603 polling booths.
In the 2012 Assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout in these areas was 59.96% and 58.43% respectively.
The polling percentage was 64.2% in the first phase of the ongoing elections and a little over 65% in the second phase.
5.15 p.m.: PTI reports — “Till 1600 hours, the turnout was over 55 per cent,” says a spokesman of U.P. Chief Electoral Officer.
3.50 p.m.: The 69 constituencies that are voting in the third pahse of the U.P. polls have recorded a turnout of 53% till 3 p.m., reports our correspondent Devesh Pandey. In 2012, the total turnout for phase 3 was about 60 per cent.
3.15 p.m.: Over 44% of the voters have exercised their franchise till 2 p.m. in third phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections, a spokesman of the U.P. Chief Electoral Officer says. In the 2012 Assembly polls, SP had won 55 of these 69 seats, while BSP, BJP and Congress secured just six, five and two respectively. One seat went to an Independent.
1.40 p.m: 38.96% voter turnout in third phase of polling till 1 pm
1.00 p.m.: Over 28 per cent votes were cast till noon on Sunday in the 69 Assembly constituencies, considered ruling Samajwadi Party stronghold, that figure in the crucial phase—III of the staggered Uttar Pradesh elections. “In the first five hours of polling, the turnout was over 28 per cent,” a spokesman of UP Chief Electoral Officer said. Polling was going on peacefully in these areas, he said.
12.50 p.m.: The third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh witnessed about 24 per cent polling till 11 a.m. i.e. in the first four hours of polling.
11.35 a.m.: Top leaders from SP, BSP and BJP exuded confidence about forming the next government in Uttar Pradesh.
10.50 a.m.: 10.9% polling in first two hours — 10.9 per cent votes have been cast in the first two hours of polling for the 69 Assembly constituencies that figure in the crucial phase-III of the staggered Uttar Pradesh elections. “In the first two hours, 10.9 per cent votes have been cast,” Office of UP Chief Electoral Officer said. Besides BSP surpemo Mayawati, Home Minister Rajnath Singh with his family cast their votes in Lucknow while Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav voted in Saifai (Etawah). Mr. Singh’s Lok Sabha constituency Lucknow, and SP strongholds Kannauj, Mainpuri and Etawah, figure in this round. Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur, Unnao, Barabanki and Sitapur are among the 12 districts where these Assembly seats are spread across.
10.30 a.m.: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with his wife and the BJP candidate from Lucknow Centre constituency Brijesh Pathak cast his vote at a polling booth in Lucknow.
10.10 a.m.: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, after casting vote in Saifai, said "We were ahead in first 2 phases and I am confident that we will be ahead in 3rd phase also." -- ANI
10.00 a.m.: The much-vaunted ‘kaam bolta hai’ (work speaks) slogan of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is facing a litmus test in the battle of ballots on Sunday in the state capital, the crucible of his dream projects.
9.40 a.m.: Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh T Venkatesh cast his vote in Lucknow. -- ANI
9.05 a.m.: BSP supremo casts her vote at a polling booth in Lucknow. Ms. Mayawati appealed to the people of Uttar Pradesh to cast their vote without fail. She also said BSP is all set to form the next government in Uttar Pradesh.
8.19 a.m.: BJP chief Amit Shah appealed to voters "vote for a government which will put UP in a path of development."
8.17 a.m.: Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said "There is no infighting within the party, we will win 300 seats."
8.16 a.m.: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to participate in the polling and vote in large numbers.
8.15 a.m.: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav appeals to voters to vote in large numbers for the development of the State.
7.42 a.m.: For free and fair polling, the Election Commission has appointed 4,609 micro-observers and 61 general observers and deployed over 83,000 personnel of central para-military forces. Besides this, 9,119 sub-inspectors of police, 3,357 head constables, 58,789 constables and 58,025 homeguards of state police are on duty. There are 1,707 sector magistrates, 200 zonal and 271 static magistrates to to ensure peace. The next four phases of polling will be held on February 23, 27 and on March 4 and 8. Counting of votes will take place on March 11.
7.41 a.m.: In the 2012 Assembly polls, SP had won 55 of these 69 seats, while BSP, BJP and Congress secured just six, five and two respectively. One seat went to an Independent.
7.40 a.m.: Poll panel officials said they hope that more and more people will come out to vote this time and that the previous turnout of 59.96 per cent in this region in 2012 will be bettered by the end of the day. In this round, all eyes are on people from the Yadav clan, like Shivpal Singh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s cousin Anurag Yadav. The fate of BJP’s Rita Bahuguna Joshi will also be decided in this round.
7.35 a.m.: Voting for 69 seats in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections began on Sunday amid tight security. Heavy security deployment has been made across the 12 districts where polling began. Sensitive polling stations marked by the Election Commission (EC) are being monitored online, an official said.
7.00 a.m.: Polling begins in 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh.