LUCKNOW: The third phase of Uttar Pradesh elections on Sunday saw a turnout of approximately 60% in 59 constituencies across 16 districts of three regions--west UP, Awadh and part of Bundelkhand.
At the time of filing this report the recorded turnout was 60.82%, which was lower than 62. 21% recorded in 2017. But the final figures are yet to come, as all the districts were still updating the numbers and would release final turnout data on Monday. According to ECI official sources, the unlike first two phases, third phase was likely to cross the 2017 polling percentage figure.
The voting process was peaceful, barring a few minor incidents. Mehroni seat of Lalitpur district, won by BJP candidate Manohar Lal in 2017 by a margin of 99,564 votes, clocked the highest turnout of 71 % with the district recording a maximum 69.05% voting, a 2.96% fall in polling percentage.
Record polling in Mainpuri dist
It was followed by Etah at 65. 70 %, Mahoba 64. 56 %, Hathras 63. 14%, Kasganj 63. 04 %, Kannauj 61.93%, Firozabad 61.89 %, Mainpuri 61.51%, Hamirpur 60.56 %, Auraiya 60.42 %, Jalaun 59.93%, Kanpur Dehat 59.87%, Farrukhabad 59.13%, Etawah 58.33%, Jhansi57.52 % and Kanpur Nagar 56.14%.
According to ECI, till 5 pm, Mainpuri district recorded highest jump in polling percentage by 1.88, followed by Etah 1.09, Kasganj 0.38 % and Auraiya 0.05 %.
Interestingly, three out of four constituency in Mainpuri district recorded a jump in polling percentage. Such as the Yadav bastion, Karhal recorded 3.04 % jump in polling by 5 pm. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is contesting assembly election for the first time from Karhal while BJP has fielded Union state minister SPS Baghel. In 2017, it recorded 59.28 % turnout. On Sunday, it was 62.32 % and still going strong. The seat created history with second highest turn- out since 1951.
Similarly, Kishni, also in Mainpuri, recorded 61.30 % turnout. In 2017, it had registered 60.04%. Bhongaon, too, recorded 3.96 % jump in turnout. In 2017, the seat registered 59.11 % however on Sunday by 5 pm it recorded 63.07%. The seat is currently dominated by BJP's Ram Naresh Agnihotri.
Chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Kumar Shukla, said, “No official complaint on discrepancies was received in the first phase of polls. Polling closed at 6 pm following a one-hour extension due to Covid-19 protocols. The day passed off peacefully with minor snags in EVMs at some places. These machines were swiftly replaced.”
Meanwhile, Jaswantnagar where Shivpal Singh Yadav is in fray, registered 63.2% turnout, against 63.53% in 2017. Hathras, a reserved seat, registered polling of 62.91 % as compared to 61.89 % of 2017.
Kannuaj reserved seat from where BJP has fielded former IPS officer Asim Arun, recorded 62.93 % turnout, which was 64.22 % in 2017. Similarly, Maharajpur recorded 54.30% voting as compared to pervious 57.54%. Sadabad of Hathras recorded 64.23 % which was 65.70 % in 2017.
This seat has been dominated by Ramveer Upadhyay on BSP ticket, but this time he contested the seat on BJP ticket. Bilhaur seat, which has Bikru village of slain ganster Vikas Dubey, recorded 62.69 % turnout till 5pm. In 2017, the seat had recorded 63.55% polling. The Govind Nagar seat of Kanpur Nagar, currently under BJP, saw 3.52 % jump in polling percentage. The seat registered 56 %, which was merely 52.48 % in 2017. Bundelkhand seat of Jhansi recorded 54.34 %, while Etawah recorded 57.20 % voters turnout.
