UP Assembly Elections 2022: Voters' turnout during five phases same as 2017 polls

For the sixth phase on March 3, the challenge is to cross the voting percentage of 56.52 in 2017.

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Lucknow: Voters' turnout in almost two-thirds of the assembly seats during five rounds of polling in Uttar Pradesh is more or less the same as in the 2017 polls, leaving political parties and experts guessing whether it's pro-incumbency or anti-incumbency votes.

A look at the voters' turnout in the 2019 general elections in the state also doesn't reflect much of a difference. While some attribute it to coronavirus, others say voters have tested all the parties in the polls and hence are not enthused by new poll promises made by the competing parties.

Out of the seven-phase elections, the politically important state has completed five rounds and the rest two are lined up on March 3 and March 7. Results will be declared on March 10 along with that of Punjab, Uttrakhand, Goa and Manipur.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase 1

The opening phase of the elections on February 10 saw a voter turnout of 62.43 per cent in the 58 assembly constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh. It was 63.47 per cent in 2017 and 61.84 per cent in the last general elections. But, Kairana which had earlier hit the headlines because of reported migration due to bad law and order saw a leap from 69.56 to 75.12 per cent voting this time.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase 2

As per data available with the election office, the second phase of polling on 55 assembly segments on February 14 registered 64.42 per cent vis-a-vis 65.53 % five years back and 63.13 % in the last Parliamentary elections. The hot seat Rampur of jailed SP leader Azam Khan saw almost a ditto voters' turnout at 63.92 per cent vis-a-vis 63.97 in 2017.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase 3

The third phase which saw voting in the Karhal constituency from where Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is contesting witnessed a 62.28 voting percentage as compared to 62.21 per cent five years back and 59.73 in the last general elections. Reports suggest it is the second-highest voting percentage in Mulayam Singh Yadav's bastion, after 71.4 per cent in 1974.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase 4

The fourth round on February 23 which saw voting in the state capital Lucknow among others on 59 seats, saw nearly 61.52 per cent voting as per voters turnout App of the Election Commission as compared to 62.55 per cent in 2017 and 60.3 per cent in 2019.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 Phase 5

Fifth-round on 61 seats including that in Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Amethi and Raebareli on February 27 witnessed 57.32 per cent voting while it was 58.24 in 2017 and 55.31 in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

For the sixth phase on March 3 which will see voting in the high-profile seat of Gorakhpur Urban from where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in the fray, the challenge is to cross the voting percentage of 56.52 in 2017.

So is in the last round on March 7 which includes Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency where the 2017 mark was 59.56 per cent. It was 57.48 in the last parliamentary polls.

There are over 14.66 lakh first-time voters (18-19 years old) in UP polls this time. Overall more than 52 lakh names of new voters were added for the 2022 polls. The count of total voters in UP polls is over 15.02 crore.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Election Commission has extended voting time by an hour.