Around 45 per cent of the 1.63 crore voters exercised their franchise in the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 52 constituencies in nine districts, amidst reports of poll boycott.
New Delhi/Lucknow, May 3 : Around 45 per cent of the 1.63 crore voters exercised their franchise in the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 52 constituencies in nine districts, amidst reports of poll boycott.
Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters that the polling passed on "peacefully" without any major untoward incident in all nine districts, including Allahabad, Varanasi and the naxalite-infested Sonebhadra and Chandauli Districts.
The by-elections to the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Robertsganj and Mirzapur also took place.
A group of Hindu hermits in Varanasi boycotted the polls, saying they had lost interest in the ballot. They said they would rather spend time singing devotional songs and praying."We are not interested in the polls because the political leaders are not working for the country, they are self-centred. They want to work for their own good. They do nothing at all. So, we have lost all interest in elections," said Bihari Lal, a saint. Some of the prominent candidates, whose fate will be decided, include State Minister Ujjwal Raman Singh, State BJP Chief Kesri Nath Tripathi, Apna Dal President Sonelal Patel and All India Mahila Congress president Reeta Bahuguna Joshi.
Over 1.63 crore voters, including 88.7 lakh male and 75.2 lakh female, will decide the fate of 785 candidates.
About 8,210 polling centres and 15,508 polling booths were set up for polls where over 17,800 EVMs were used for voting.
Over 6,500 central paramilitary personnel were deployed to prevent untoward incidents.
The final phase of the polling will be held on May 8 when voting for 59 assembly segments will be held.
Counting of votes is due on May 11 and results are expected on the same day.
ANI