UP fed up of 'exploitative politics', wants Modi governance: BJP

Exuding confidence of winning with clear majority, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Lucknow Cantonment constituency Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Saturday said, the people of Uttar Pradesh want the BJP to lead the state as they are fed up of 'exploitative politics' done by both Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party.

Talking to ANI, Joshi said the people of Uttar Pradesh have great confidence in the ability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and therefore this time it will be a mandate for change, a mandate for BJP.

"The people have great confidence in the ability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they want the BJP to lead the state because they are fed up of bad law and order situation in the state, they are fed up of bribery and exploitative politics based on caste and community played by both BSP and the SP. So, this time it is mandate for change and a mandate for BJP," she said.

"The exit polls are clearly indicating the clear victory for the BJP and whatever we have seen on the ground is also collaborating with it. But as far as my perception goes the BJP is going to get a clean majority and the majority will be close to 250. UP has in the past two elections have given clear mandate for one single party. It was for the BSP in 2007 it was for SP in 2012 and it is going to be for the BJP in 2017," she added.

Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements and heavy security are in place for today's crucial counting of votes for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur Assembly Elections.

The counting will start at 8 in the morning and firstly, all the postal ballots will be counted.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued guidelines on security arrangements for counting of votes, and has also set up facilities for disseminating trends and results of elections of five assemblies.

The poll body's website will start functioning at 8.00 in the morning and it would provide comparative analysis of results with 2012 polls, besides constituency wise, party wise and candidate wise trends.

In Uttar Pradesh, counting will take place in 78 centers across 75 districts. The Chief Electoral officer reviewed preparations for counting of votes through video conferencing.

In Uttarakhand, counting of votes will be held at 15 centers across the state. To avoid any controversy, the counting process will be video graphed, while in Manipur, the counting of votes for 60-member Assembly will be taken up at eleven centers.

Meanwhile in Punjab, 14,000 officials have been deployed for smooth conduct of counting and it will be held at 54 counting centers at 27 locations, and in Goa, counting for 19 North Goa constituencies will be held at Panaji and for 21 south Goa constituencies in Madgaon city.