The seventh and final phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh began at 7am on Wednesday and the polling witnessed a turnout of women voters in large numbers.
Polling has already started in 40 constituencies including PM Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi. A total of 535 candidates, including 51 women, are in the fray for these assembly seats spread across seven districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, known as Poorvanchal.
The elections are being held in seven phases in Uttar Pradesh and so far six phases have been concluded peacefully. The results will be declared on March 11 along with that of Manipur, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab.
Over 22.84 percent voting recorded till 11am for 40 seats in 7 districts and over 26 per cent votes have been polled till 12 noon.
People at booth 99 in Mirzapur boycotted voting complaining there was no development in their area.
As voting got underway in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to come out and vote in large numbers.
Last week witnessed a series of rallies and campaigning by leaders from all parties, especially in Varanasi. Prime Minister Modi spent three days in his constituency taking out two road shows and addressing two major rallies.
Over 1.41 crore voters are exercising their franchise in the last phase of the assembly elections that include 76.87 lakh men and 64.99 lakh women.