UP Polling Phase-2: 62.22% Turnout Recorded as Voting Ends for 55 Seats
Catch all live updates on the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections here.
UP Polls 2nd Phase LIVE
(Photo: Altered by The Quint)
As polling ended for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh elections on Monday, 14 February, the state saw a 62.22 percent voter turnout till 6 pm across nine districts and 55 constituencies.
While voting was underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had trained guns at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party while addressing a rally in Kanpur Dehat, saying that "parivarvad" will not be voted back to power in UP.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party had alleged that a VVPAT machine in Behat Assembly was throwing out the slip of the BJP on voting for Samajwadi Party.
Voting underway across polling booths in Moradabad.
Voting underway across polling booths in Moradabad.
Voting underway across polling booths in Moradabad.
Voting underway across polling booths in Moradabad.
Voting underway across polling booths in Moradabad.
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
PM Narendra Modi had taken to Twitter to urge voters across UP, Goa, and Uttarakhand to vote in large numbers and "strengthen the festival of democracy"
There were 586 candidates in the fray in this phase of the polls, with seats spread across nine districts and 55 constituencies
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60.51% Voter Turnout in First Phase of UP Polls
Polling for the first phase of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh ended at 6 pm on Thursday, with the state recording a voting turnout of 60.51 percent. As many as 623 candidates were in the fray and around 2.27 crore people were eligible to vote in this phase, covering a total of 58 constituencies spread across 11 districts.
A majority of the areas going to the polls in the second phase have a sizeable Muslim population and are considered to be the strongholds of the Samajwadi Party.
Extra Police Force at 'Sensitive' Booths
While additional force will be deployed at all the 'sensitive' polling booths in the eight constituencies, the social media cell will keep a tab on fake information and inflammatory posts.
Additional DG (law and order) Prashant Kumar, said, "The C-Plan smartphone application will also be used to keep a tab on anti-social elements by linking 10 select people of each village with the DGP control room."
'Strengthen Festival of Democracy': PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to urge voters to vote in large numbers in the three states.
"Polling will be held across Uttarakhand, Goa and in parts of Uttar Pradesh. I call upon all those whose are eligible to vote today to do so in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy," he tweeted.
UP Minister Offers Prayers in Shahjahanpur
UP Minister and BJP candidate from Shahjahanpur, Suresh Kumar Khanna offered prayers at Hanuman Dham temple Shahjahanpur.
Glitch in EVM at Bareilly Polling Booth
Voting at polling station number 407 in Damkhoda village of Bareilly Assembly constituency yet to begin due to a glitch in the EVM, ANI reported.
Security Tightened in Moradabad
Babloo Kumar, SSP Moradabad said that security has been tightened in Moradabad in the wake of polling.
"CPMF is deployed at all 1138 polling booths of the district. We have made a call centre in addition to the police control room. We have directed police officials to surveillance through drones in the densely populated areas," he told ANI.
'80-20 Comment Was Not in Religious Context': Yogi Adityanath
As voting began for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh elections, CM Yogi Adityanath in an interview to ANI said that the the '80-20' remark that he had made in an election rally was not in a religious context.
"It is a reaction to action. I said that 80 percent people are with the BJP and 20 percent always oppose us and they will do so this time too. I didn't say it in the context of religion or caste," he said.
"The 20 percent includes people with negative mentality who always oppose us and support the mafias and criminals. After the first phase of polls, it is clear that this election is truly '80 vs 20'," he added.
He also said that after the first phase of elections, the scenario has become clear that BJP will form the government again in UP with an overwhelming majority.
Yogi Adityanath further said that the 'double-engine government' will return to power in UP and that the BJP is achieve the 300-mark.
'No Riots or Curfew after 2017': Yogi Adityanath
Reacting to the Opposition's 'thoko raaj' remark against the BJP government in UP, Yogi Adityanath in an interview to ANI said that every person should fear the law.
"Before 2017, there were riots every 3-4 days, with curfew being in force for months. On the contrary, no riots have taken place and no curfew was imposed in the last five years," he said.
Yogi Adityanath Responds to Owaisi's Comment on Hijab Row
Reacting to AIMIM Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi's comment that a 'hijab-clad woman might become India's Prime Minister some day,' UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the Modi government ensured that laws of the Constitution take precedence over the Shariat laws.
"PM Modi has scrapped triple talaq to free the daughters, to give them their rights and respect that they are entitled to. The government ensured that the system won't be run as per the Shariat but only according to the Constitution," he said.
"The system should run as per the Constitution. We can't impose our personal religious beliefs and choices on the country and its institutions. Can I ask all employees in UP to wear 'bhagwa'? Dress code must be enforced in schools," he said.
Yogi Targets West Bengal, Kerala Over Post-Poll Violence
Targeting West Bengal and Kerala over post-poll violence, Yogi Adityanath told ANI that no such incidents have taken place in Uttar Pradesh after polls.
"The First phase of Assembly elections concluded peacefully. Was there any incident of violence in UP? Earlier, riots took place, anarchy prevailed and hooliganism was at its peak. Do polls happen in Bengal as peacefully?" he said.
"Barbarism was unleashed on BJP workers in the last Bengal Assembly polls. Booths were captured and hundreds were killed. It all happened in Kerala also. There were a lot of violence and political killings in both these states. Did it happen in UP?" he added.
'BJP Changed the Course of Politics in UP': Yogi Adityanath
Lauding the efforts of the party for five years in cleaning UP's politics, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath told ANI that the BJP changed the course of politics in the state.
"The BJP has released its 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' which talks about nationalism, all-around development, and welfare of the poor. It will be implemented with full honesty. PM Modi has changed the agenda of politics in India," he said.
Attacking the Opposition, he said that politics earlier revolved around caste, religion, and family but has now transformed into, development and good governance for the poor, villages, women, farmers, and youth.
Yogi Adityanath Attacks 'Gandhi Siblings', Akhilesh Yadav
Speaking to ANI, Adityanath also attacked Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying that the siblings were enough to destroy the Congress party.
Targeting former CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his claims of a "political witch-hunt" against Opposition leaders by the state government, he said: "Even Akhilesh doesn't want Azam Khan to come out of jail because it will pose a threat to his position. The state government has nothing to do with these cases whether they are related to Azam Khan or anyone else. It is the court that grants bail."
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Casts Vote
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi cast his vote at a polling booth in Rampur.
Jitin Prasada Casts Vote in Shahajahanpur
UP minister Jitin Prasada cast his vote in Shahjahanpur.
Expressing confidence in BJP's victory, he told ANI: "Trends for the first phase of election show that people have voted for BJP. Today in the second phase people will bless BJP again on the basis of work that has been done."
9.45% Voter Turnout till 9 AM
9.45% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am, as per the Election Commission.
The district-wise voter turnout is as following:
Saharanpur: 9.77%
Bijnor: 10.01%
Moradabad: 10.03%
Sambhal: 10.78%
Rampur: 8.37%
Amroha: 10.83%
Badaun: 9.14%
Bareilly: 8.36%
Shahjahanpur: 9.18%
Voting Underway Across Polling Booths in Moradabad
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
SP Candidate Haji Ahmed Urges for Peaceful Voting
Samajwadi Party candidate Haji R Ahmed people to follow the law and expressed confidence in the party's victory.
Speaking to ANI, he said that development done by the BJP can be seen only on social media, not on the ground.
District-wise Break-Up of Seats Won by Parties in 2017
Here's a district-wise break-up of the seats won by different parties in 2017
23.03% Voter Turnout Till 11:00 AM
23.03% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am, as per the Election Commission.
The district-wise voter turnout is as following:
Saharanpur: 25.26%
Bijnor: 24.34%
Moradabad: 25.99%
Sambhal: 22.95%
Rampur: 21.76%
Amroha: 22.99%
Badaun: 21.87%
Bareilly: 20.99%
Shahjahanpur: 21.158%
SP Leader Slams UP Govt Over 'Framing' Azam Khan
Samajwadi Party leader Imran Masood slammed CM Yogi Adityanath for allegedly framing Azam Khan.
"What is he talking about, framing Azam Sahab for robbery with no shame? He has made a joke out of politics," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
"He has said it rightly so, he just made a mistake. 80 percent people are with us and 20 percent with them," he added.
SP Leader Writes to EC Over EVM Malfunction
Samajwadi Party leader Arvind Kumar Singh wrote to the Election Commission about EVMs malfunctioning at multiple locations in the state.
'People of Rampur are With Azam Khan': Wife
Slamming the Yogi Adityanath government for allegedly framing Azam Khan, his wife Tanzeem Fatima told ANI that the people of Rampur will support the leader despite him being imprisoned.
PM Modi Addresses Rally in Kanpur Dehat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kanpur Dehat while voting is underway for the second phase of Assembly elections.
Training guns at the Congress and the Samajwadi party, he said that the "parivaarvaad" will not be voted back to power in UP.
He also accused the previous governments of looting the people of Uttar Pradesh.
The state saw ration scams every other day before 2017. They made lakhs of fake ration cards, but the 'double engine' government ended this scam. Today, crores of people from across the state are receiving ration free of cost," he said.
Voting Continues Across 9 Districts of Uttar Pradesh
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
(Photo: Twitter/CEO UP)
39.07% Voter Turnout Till 1:00 PM
39.07% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am, as per the Election Commission.
The district-wise voter turnout is as following:
Saharanpur: 42.32%
Bijnor: 38.68%
Moradabad: 41.88%
Sambhal: 37.99%
Rampur: 40.06%
Amroha: 40.81%
Budaun: 35.55%
Bareilly: 39.14%
Shahjahanpur: 35.34%
Voting Underway Across Polling Booths in Sambhal
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
Bipolarity Expected in Several Constituencies of 2nd Phase
It is possible that the second-phase areas could see a continuation of the first phase's bipolarity.
This could include the SP gaining some ground at the expense of the BSP and the Congress. One of the places where this could happen is Saharanpur, where both the BSP and the Congress used to be stronger.
But now, with increasing bipolarity and some new inductions like Imran Masood from the Congress and Dharam Singh Saini from the BJP, the SP's fortunes are on the rise.
Bijnor is another district to watch out for, as the BSP has a significant base here.
Read the full analysis here.
'Azam Khan Innocent, Framed by the BJP': Son of SP Leader
Speaking to ANI, Abdullah Azam Khan, son of Samajwadi Party leader Abdullah Azam Khan claimed that the leader has been framed by the BJP.
"People consider it bad. They will see the reaction on 10 March," he said.
'Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, God Knows Who Gandhi': Shah's Barbs Against Cong, SP
"There is a Congress party Jawahar Lal ji, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and next God knows who Gandhi. Can these people do good to the country? Mulayam Singh went to Uttar Pradesh, did not find anyone else, made his son sit and divided the whole of UP," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at a rally in Jhansi on Thursday.
"When Akhilesh was in power, around 200 farmers died due to draught & starvation and over 300 cases of suicide were reported," he stated.
"Akhilesh ji captured the land of poor from goons and mafia in 5 years. Yogi Adityanath ji vacated a land worth Rs 2000 crore by running a bulldozer. Akhilesh ji made 45 people of his family sit on different posts. Modi ji took 45 schemes to your doorstep," he added.
51.93% Voter Turnout Till 3 PM, Highest in Amroha & Moradabad
A 51.93 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, as per the EC.
The district-wise voter turnout is as following:
Saharanpur: 42.32%
Bijnor: 51.81%
Moradabad: 55.62%
Sambhal: 49.11%
Rampur: 52.63%
Amroha: 60.05%
Budaun: 47.69%
Bareilly: 49.84%
Shahjahanpur: 46.78%
SP Leader Picked Up by Police on Behest of BJP Minister, Party Alleges
"Pawan Kumar Dixit, District Vice President of Samajwadi Party Shikshak Sabha Shahjahanpur, has been picked up by the police at the behest of Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna. The action taken against the opposition at the behest of power without any allegation is condemnable. Election commission should take action," the Samajwadi Party alleged in a tweet.
In another tweet, the SP alleged that "In the booth number 422 423 424 of Bilsi 114 assembly constituency of Badaun district, the mother of the SP agent was beaten up by the BJP men in the presence of the police. Officers posted are doing fake voting."
'Big BJP Leaders Telling Big Lies': Akhilesh
"People in Jhansi have announced that they will not get tricked by BJP's fake promises. Small leaders of BJP are telling small lies, big leaders are telling big lies, and their top leader is telling the biggest lies," Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said at a rally in Jhansi.
Priyanka Gandhi Holds Rally in Harimpur
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday held an election campaign in the Maudaha Assembly constituency in Hamirpur district, as polling continued for the second phase of UP Assembly elections.
'Parivarwadis' Will Be Defeated, Lotus Flower Will Bloom at Every Booth in Mainpuri: CM Yogi
"This immense support of the nationalist population of Mainpuri is ensuring the defeat of the 'Parivarwadis.' Mainpuri will create history again... Lotus flower will bloom at every booth here. Thanks Mainpuri people!
SP Claims EVM Malfunction in BJP's Favour, EC Refutes Allegation
The Samajwadi Party has alleged that the VVPAT machine at booth number 170 in Behat Assembly constituency in Saharanpur district is throwing out the slip of the BJP on voting for Samajwadi Party.
However, Additional Chief Election Officer Brahm Dev Ram Tiwari has refuted the allegation, calling it "totally baseless."
Can SP Consolidate the Sizeable Muslim Vote in Phase-2 Polls?
Some of the districts voting in phase 2 have a sizeable Muslim population: Rampur (50%), Moradabad (50%), Bijnor (43%), Saharanpur (42%), Amroha (41%), Bareilly (34%), Sambhal (33%), and Badaun (23%).
Last time, the BJP managed to win some of the seats that in these districts due to a split of Muslim votes between the SP and the BSP.
But when the two parties contested together in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, they managed to dominate this region, winning seven out of the 11 Lok Sabha seats that fall in these districts.
The question, this time, is: can the SP now consolidate this vote on its own? If it manages to do that, this phase may emerge as one of its best phases in the elections.
Read more here.
SP, Congress, BSP Interfering With Voting of Muslim Women: Union Minister
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has claimed that in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party, the BSP, and the Congress are hindering Muslim women from voting.
"Women are being asked to go to booths in burkha and insist on voting without showing identity. We've briefed EC on this matter and urged to take steps to stop fake voting," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
'BSP Contesting UP Polls With Full Might': Mayawati
“Our party is preparing and contesting the polls with full might to once again form a government with full majority so that the ‘achche din’ of BSP governance can come back in the state like it happened in 2007,” BSP leader Mayawati said at a public event in Orai in Jalaun district of the Jhansi zone, reported PTI.
60.44% Voter Turnout Till 5 PM, Highest in Saharanpur & Amroha
A 60.44 percent voter turnout was recorded for the second phase of the UP Assembly elections by the EC till 5 pm.
The district-wise voter turnout is as follows:
Saharanpur: 67.05%
Bijnor: 61.44%
Moradabad: 64.52%
Sambhal: 56.88%
Rampur: 60.10%
Amroha: 66.15%
Budaun: 55.98%
Bareilly: 57.68%
Shahjahanpur: 55.20%
Voting Ends With 62.22% Turnout
A 62.22 percent voter turnout was recorded for the second phase of the UP Assembly elections by the EC till the end of voting at 6 pm.
The district-wise voter turnout is as follows:
Saharanpur: 68.56%
Bijnor: 62.85%
Moradabad: 64.75%
Sambhal: 57.54%
Rampur: 63.97%
Amroha: 69.66%
Budaun: 57.99%
Bareilly: 59.24%
Shahjahanpur: 58.13%