The unprecedented seven-phased elections for the 403-assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh finally came to an end on Tuesday, with an estimated 45 percent turnout during the polling for the seventh and final phase.
Lucknow/New Delhi, May 8 : The unprecedented seven-phased elections for the 403-assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh finally came to an end on Tuesday, with an estimated 45 percent turnout during the polling for the seventh and final phase.
The curtains came down on the record month-long polls at 5 p.m. in the 59 assembly seats in nine districts-- Deoria, Gorkahpur, Ballia, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Faizabad, Azamgarh, Mau and Ambedkarnagar-- without any major untoward incident, officials said.
Some of the major contenders in the final phase were Ambika Chaudhary, Harishankar Tiwari, Mukhtar Ansari, Amarmani Tripathi and Akhilesh Pratap Singh.
Reports said that the last leg of polls had the maximum number of candidates with criminal background.
A study by Election Watch, a voluntary group headed by a former Director General of Police, said at least 162 of the 934 contestants for 59 seats face criminal charges.
Besides the seven phases, another somewhat unprecedented fact that caught the imagination of all was the virtual absence of untoward incidents.
Unlike previous elections, no incidents of violence or booth capturing were reported during the polls, which passed off systematically. However, the overall turnout remained low at about 43 percent.
Security was at its tightest throughout the polls. For the final phase, Uttar Pradesh's borders with Nepal and Bihar were closed to prevent anti-social elements from crossing over during the voting.
Counting of votes for 403 Assembly Constituencies will take place on May 11 and results are expected on the same day.
ANI