UP polls: 22.84 percent recorded till 11 a.m.

The seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls witnessed a voter turnout of 22.84 percent till 11 a.m.

Polling in 40 assembly seats is currently underway.

A total of 535 candidates, including 51 women, are in the fray in these assembly seats spread across seven districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Over 1.41 crore voters including 76.87 lakh men and 64.99 lakh women are eligible to exercise their franchise in the seventh and last phase of the assembly elections.

As many as 8,682 polling stations with 14,458 polling booths have been set up.

The polling started amidst tight security arrangements this morning with all eyes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting 32 seats and its allies - the Apana Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party - are contesting on four seats each.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded its nominees for all seats.

While the Samajwadi Party is contesting 31 seats, its ally the Congress is in race for the remaining seats.

The counting of votes will take place on March 11.