UP Polls Phase II: Around 10 percent voter turnout recorded in first two hours

Nearly 10.75 percent of the voters had exercised their franchise in second phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh till 9 a.m.

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi cast his vote in Rampur, while Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar and his wife, Saubhagya Gangwar, cast their votes in Bareilly.

In Uttar Pradesh, 67 constituencies spread over 11 districts of western UP are exercising their rights in this phase. 721 candidates are in the fray. Over 2.28 crore voters, including 1.04 crore women, would exercise their franchise in this phase.

The districts polling are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun. The polling will end at 5pm.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling.

Election Commission has deployed 105 companies of Central Para Military Forces, 22 thousand state police personnel and about 17 thousand Homeguards to ensure free and fair in the state. The Commission has divided the state into 1,309 sectors and deployed 219 zonal magistrates to ensure smooth conduct of polls.