Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017: Over 60% voting recorded in final phase

Voting for seventh phase of Uttar Pradesh elections ends

Over 50 percent polling was reported across 40 seats in the final phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. A high voter turnout of 53.47 percent has been reported from Varanasi.

Few incidents of violence were reported from Manipur.

Chief Electoral officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan says, "There were some incidents of violence in Tamenglong Assembly segment. But the incidents took place outside the polling booths. The police have taken appropriate action." 

Uttar Pradesh polls last phase: Over 41 percent voting recorded till 2 PM.

Over 26 percent voting till 12 noon in last phase of UP polls.

RSS' Indresh Kumar casts his vote at polling booth number 49 of Varanasi Cantt.

Voter turnout of 22.84 percent recorded till 11 am in last phase of polling.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, special arrangements were made for the female voters at polling booth no 394 in Aurai (Bhadohi).

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Johi casts his vote in Varanasi.

10.43 percent recorded till 9 am in the seventh and last phase of UP elections 2017.

In an unfortunate incident, a 65-year old woman dies before casting her vote at polling booth number 357 of Mughalsarai Assembly constituency.

Apna Dal leader and Union Minister Anupriya Patel casts her vote in Mirzapur.

Congress leader Ajai Rai casts his vote at polling booth number 389 of Varanasi South.

In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rai says people will vote against 'jumlebaazi'.

Due to a technical glitch, voting started late at booths 269 and 260 in Chandauli (Sakaldiha Assembly constituency).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals to the electorate to come out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote.

"Today is the last phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh. I request that you must let your precious vote. Early voting, then refreshments!" the PM tweets.

Seven districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, known as Poorvanchal, are going to polls today.

Three Naxal-affected districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli, along with the five Assembly segments under Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, will be in prime focus.
Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Bhadoi are the other districts where polling is going on in this phase.

Prominent candidates - Om Prakash, Parasnath Yadav, Ajay Rai, former MP Dhananjay Singh, Sigbatullah Ansari brother of Mukhtar Ansari and Seema Singh wife of jailed mafia Munna Bajrangi.

Over 1.41 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise, which include 76.87 lakh men and 64.99 lakh women. A total of 706 voters are of the third gender.

The BJP is contesting 32 seats and its allies - the Apana Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party - are contesting on 4 seats each. The BSP has fielded its nominees for all seats. While the SP is contesting 31 seats, its ally the Congress is in race for the remaining seats.

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