Voting begins for assembly elections in Uttarakhand, second phase of polling in UP

Voting has begun for the first phase and the second phase of assembly elections in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh respectively.

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

The districts going to polls 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.

In Uttarakhand, polling will take place for 69 of the 70 assembly seats as voting in Karnprayag constituency has been rescheduled for the 9th of next month following the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. Voting will end at 5 pm. A total of 628 candidates are in the fray for the single phase polling in the hill state.

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.