61% voting in UP fourth phase polls, percentage likely to go up

Over 61 percent voters exercised their franchise on Thursday in the fourth phase elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

File photo - Representational image

Lucknow: Over 61 percent voters exercised their franchise on Thursday across 53 seats in the fourth phase elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

"The voting percentage was 61 percent till 5 pm. We hope it will go up to 63 per cent," Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Dev told reporters in New Delhi. 

The seats that went to the polls were spread across the Bundelkhand region apart from districts of Allahabad, Koshambi, Pratapgarh and Rae Bareli. 

Vijay Dev said the seats had seen 59.9 percent polling in the 2012 assembly polls and 57.1 percent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, as per IANS. 

He said the Election Commission had recovered Rs 13.49 crore in cash and liquor worth Rs 8.17 crore in the run up to the polling in the fourth phase. 

The poll percentage was 59.9 per cent in the corresponding seats in the 2012 Assembly elections and 57.1 percent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Dev said.

With poll machinery in the state keeping up the pressure on anti-social elements, Rs 13.49 crore in cash and 3.26 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 8.17 crore was seized in run up to this phase.

So far, a total of Rs 201 crore has been seized in cash and kind including liquor, drugs and precious metals - all used to influence voters, as per PTI.

So far, Rs 112.5 crore in cash, 19.78 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 56.05 crore, Rs 7.41 crore worth of drugs, and Rs 25.15 crore worth of precious metals including gold and silver have been seized by election authorities from across Uttar Pradesh.

He said a "pre-poll" incident of violence was reported last night from Mahoba where SP and BSP workers had clashed, leaving two injured.

While two of the accused have been arrested, the two undergoing treatment in hospital will also be placed under arrest. The SHO and chowki in charge of the police station concerned have been suspended.

Counting of votes is on March 11.

(With Agency inputs)