UP Voting Day: 60.17% Turnout in First Phase; 'No Untoward Incident,' Says CEO
Catch live updates from the first day of polling in Uttar Pradesh here.
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The first phase of the seven-phase election in Uttar Pradesh saw a voter turnout of 60.17% on Thursday, 10 February.
Polling began at 7 am for 58 Assembly seats in 11 districts – spanning the Jat-dominant belt of western UP.
The 11 districts where the elections were held today are Shamli, Hapur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, and Agra.
As the curtains came down on the first phase, the Chief Electoral Officer addressed the press and said: "Polling has been conducted peacefully and no untoward incident was reported anywhere.”
The UP state assembly polls are essentially a contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance
There are a total of 623 candidates contesting in the 58 constituencies in the first phase
In the 2017 elections, the BJP had won 53 seats out of 58, while the SP and the BSP had got two seats each, and the RLD had won one seat.
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Key Constituencies
Noida: In Noida, BJP's UP vice-president Pankaj Singh will face a challenge from SP's Sunil Choudhary, Congress' Pankhuri Pathak, and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Pankaj Awana.
Muzaffarnagar: The BJP is fielding sitting MLA and Minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal from the seat and the SP-RLD alliance has decided to field Saurabh, and the Congress has fielded Subodh Sharma.
Baghpat: The SP-RLD alliance will be fielding Ahmad Hameed, the son of former Energy Minister late Nawab Kokab Hameed, from the Baghpat seat. Yogesh Dhama is the BJP's candidate for the seat. Meanwhile, the Congress party has fielded Anil Dev Tyagi.
Mathura: The BJP has fielded Shrikant Sharma, Power Minister in the outgoing government, from Mathura. Meanwhile, the Congress has fielded Pradeep Mathur from the seat. So far, only the BJP or the Congress has held the seat. The SP has fielded former MLA Devendra Agarwal from the seat and will be looking to make its debut from the Mathura seat this year.
Atrauli: The BJP has reposed its faith in Sandeep Singh. Meanwhile, the SP has fielded Viresh Yadav from the seat, and the Congress has fielded Dharmendra Lodhi from the seat.
Kairana: The SP-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance recently announced Nahid Hasan as their candidate from the Kairana Assembly seat of UP's Shamli district. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded Mriganka Singh from the seat.
Thana Bhawan: UP Cane Development Minister and BJP leader Suresh Rana will face a challenge from Congress' Satya Sayyam Saini and RLD's Ashraf Ali, the former chairperson of the Jalalabad civic body, for the Thana Bhawan seat.
Voting Begins in Western UP
The first phase of the seven-phase election in Uttar Pradesh began at 7 am on Thursday with 58 Assembly seats in 11 districts – spanning the Jat-dominant belt of western UP – going to the polls.
COVID-19 Norms for Polling Booths
The Election Commission of India has issued COVID-19 guidelines for voters exercising their franchise amid the ongoing pandemic.
Measures such as the usage of sanitizers, thermal scanner, masks, and gloves have been announced by the EC. Social distancing, token system, and other measures will be followed at polling booths to avoid queues.
'Urge All Voters to Participate in Holy Festival of Democracy': PM Modi
"Today is the first phase of voting in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. I request all the voters to participate enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy by following the rules of COVID. Remember - pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan (vote first, then refreshments)," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on the morning of the polling day.
'Vote for Crime-Free, Riot-Free UP': CM Yogi Adityanath
"Today is the first phase of the great ritual of democracy. This ritual would not be complete without the sacrifice of your invaluable vote. Your one vote will strengthen the resolve of a crime-free, fear-free, riot-free Uttar Pradesh. That's why 'vote first then refreshment' then any other work...," Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted on polling day morning.
'Vote for Govt That Will Give Security, Respect': Amit Shah
"Today is the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. I appeal to all the brothers and sisters of this phase to vote in maximum numbers to elect a government that will give you security, respect and good governance along with development in the state. Your one vote is the basis of bright future of Uttar Pradesh," Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted on Thursday morning.
UP Minister Atul Garg Casts Vote at Kavi Nagar
UP Medical, Health, and Family Welfare Minister Atul Garg cast his vote at a polling booth in Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad, as the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Election began.
Police Personnel, Home Guard Jawans Deployed in Agra for Voting Day
"Police and administrative officers doing rounds since morning. 129 Company Force of CAPF deployed on all booths. No booth in the district where CAPF isn't deployed. Civil Police and Home Guard jawans also deployed as per EC's guidelines," Superintendent Agra City Vikash Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
'Free the Country From Fear': Rahul Gandhi Urges Voters to Come Out
"Free the country from all fear- Come out, vote!" tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as polling began in western Uttar Pradesh.
'Paramilitary Forces Deployed, Videography at Booths': Gautam Buddh Nagar DM
"I urge citizens to come out to vote today. Model polling booths established, and paramilitary forces deployed and videography being done at all polling booths. All COVID-19 protocols being followed at polling booths," District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar Suhas LY was quoted as saying by ANI.
'Confident That People Will Vote for BJP, Good Governance': Baby Rani Maurya
"I am confident that the citizens will vote in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party for good governance in the state," the BJP candidate from Agra Rural, Baby Rani Maurya," was quoted as saying by ANI.
Fate of 9 Ministers Hangs in Balance in 1st Phase of Voting
The fate of nine ministers in the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in UP will be decided in the first phase. They are Suresh Rana, Atul Garg, Shrikant Sharma, Sandeep Singh, Anil Sharma, Kapil Dev Agarwal, Dinesh Khatik, Dr GS Dharmesh, and Chaudhary Laxmi Narain.
Read more here.
UP Elections Phase-I: Key Candidates
Pankaj Singh: The incumbent MLA in the Noida Assembly seat and son of Defence Minister Pankaj Singh is aiming for a second straight term.
Mriganka Singh: The eldest daughter of three-time BJP MLA Hukum Singh, Mriganka lost the 2017 Assembly polls from Kairana to SP's Nahid Hasan by 21,162 votes.
Baby Rani Maurya: Former Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya is the BJP's candidate from the Agra Rural Assembly seat.
Sandeep Singh: The current Minister of State for Education in UP and the grandson of Kalyan Singh, Sandeep won the 2017 Assembly polls from Atrauli by a huge margin of 50,967 votes.
Read more here.
'Some EVMs Being Replaced After Complaints': Shamli DM
"Polling process has started at all booths. Some complaints regarding EVMs received from some random booths, we are replacing those machines and resolving their matter. Peaceful polling underway, no law and order situation anywhere," Shamli District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur was quoted as saying by ANI.
Women Voters Being Abused in Anupshahr, Long Queue in Kithor: Samajwadi Party Urges EC to Take Steps
The Samajwadi Party has said that the Bulandshahr district seat of Anupshahr saw women voters being harassed, and has urged the Election Commission to take cognizance.
"Anupshahr-67, the assembly of Bulandshahr district, but the officers are abusing women voters. Take immediate cognizance, take action, ensure smooth and fair polling," it said in a tweet, tagging the EC.
"There has been a long queue at booth number 82 of Kithor-46 assembly seat of Meerut, but the officials are not starting the voting. The Election Commission is requested to take immediate cognizance and ensure smooth voting," the party said in another tweet.
'Time to Save Yourself From 5 Years Full of Sorrow': Mayawati
"A warm welcome to all of you in the first phase of voting today in 58 assembly constituencies of 11 districts in western UP for the general elections to the UP assembly. It is time to decide whether the coming five years in UP will be full of sorrow and helplessness for you as before or you will be able to save yourself," Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said in a tweet.
2.28 Cr Voters, 26,027 Polling Booths in Phase-I
A graphic released by the EC indicates that out of the 2.28 crore voters in the first phase, 1.24 crore voters are male while the rest are women. Out of the 623 candidates, 73 are women.
In the first phase, polling will take place at 26,027 booths.
(Photo: EC)
'Cong Fighting With Strength on All Seats After 30 Years': Priyanka Gandhi
"My dear sisters and brothers of western Uttar Pradesh, use the power of votes for your issues and for building a better future for the state. Best wishes to all my colleagues, workers and candidates of UP Congress - You should be proud that after 30 years we are fighting with our strength on all seats," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who has led the party's poll campaign in the state, said in a tweet.
Voters' Sentiment in Western UP: Epicenter of Farmers' Protests & Muzaffarnagar Riots
West UP is where the Muzaffarnagar riots took place in 2013, creating a communal divide that has lasted years. But it is also the region that was the epicenter of the farmers' protest against the Narendra Modi government's farm laws in 2020-21.
Has the farmers' protest created solidarities across communities or does the communal divide between Jats and Muslims still stand? How are the various political parties, especially the BJP and the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal negotiating the fluid communal equations in the region
We tried to explore this in our ground report from Muzaffarnagar in which we spoke at length to both Jat and Muslim farmers. Read it here.
7.93% Voter Turnout Till 9 AM, Highest in Meerut & Baghpat
A total of 7.93 percent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in 58 assembly seats in 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh.
As per the voter turnout percentage released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout for various regions is as follows:
Agra: 7.53%
Aligarh: 8.26%
Baghpat: 8.93%
Bulandshahr: 7.51%
Gautam Buddh Nagar: 8.33%
Ghaziabad: 7.37%
Hapur: 8.20%
Mathura: 8.30%
Meerut: 8.44%
Muzaffarnagar: 7.50%
Shamli: 7.70%
(Graphic: CEO Uttar Pradesh)
UP Polls Phase-I: 7.93% Voter Turnout Till 9 AM
In Photos: Polling Underway in UP Amid COVID Protocols
(Photo Courtesy: CEO UP)
(Photo Courtesy: CEO UP)
Some persons with disability cast their votes at the polling station in Ghaziabad district, the EC shared on Twitter.
'New UP's New Slogan – Development': Akhilesh Yadav
As the first phase of polling began in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "New slogan of new UP: Let development be an ideology!"
'Beware, or UP Will Become Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal': Yogi
"A lot of wonderful things have happened in these five years under the double engine government of the BJP. I have to tell you something that is there in my heartYou have seen it yourself. Beware! If you falter, the labour of these five years will be spoiled. It would not take much time for Uttar Pradesh to become Kashmir, Kerala, and Bengal," Yogi Adityanath said in a video released ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls.
In Photos: Polling Underway in Gautam Buddh Nagar
The voter turnout in Gautam Buddh Nagar till 10 am stood at 8.07 per cent.
(Photo Courtesy: EC)
(Photo: Courtesy: EC)
20.03% Voter Turnout Till 11 AM, Highest in Shamli & Muzaffarnagar
A 20.03 percent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in 58 assembly seats in 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh.
Agra: 20.42%
Aligarh: 17.91%
Baghpat: 22.24%
Bulandshahr: 21.63%
Gautam Buddh Nagar: 18.43%
Ghaziabad: 17.26%
Hapur: 22.78%
Mathura: 20.39%
Meerut: 18.92%
Muzaffarnagar: 22.56%
Shamli: 22.84%
UP Polls Phase-I: 20.03% Turnout Till 11 AM
RLD Chief Jayant Chaudhary To Skip Voting Due to Rally
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary will not cast his vote today because of his election rally, reported ANI. Jayant Chaudhary is a voter of the Mathura region.
Chaudhary, however, appealed to the people to vote for a 'caring' government.
Samajwadi Party Candidate Named in COVID Violations Case
Samajwadi Party candidate Pradip Yadav, contesting from Deoria's Rudrapur constituency, was stopped while campaigning on Wednesday by the police, due to violation of COVID-19 protocol.
Yadav and 15 others have been named in a case for violation of COVID norms.
Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan Casts His Vote in Muzaffarnagar
Union Minister Dr Sanjeev Balyan cast his vote in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. A 22.56 percent voter turnout was recorded in Muzaffarnagar till 11 am.
'Chain of Riots, No Festival Celebrations Under Prev Govts': Yogi
"Be it riots in Kosi Kalan or Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, or Aligarh, there was a chain of riots during anarchical governance of previous govts. They imposed curfews, conducted riots, didn't let people celebrate festivals; Kanwar Yatras were stopped," UP CM Yogi Adityanath was quoted as saying by ANI in Saharanpur on Thursday.
Complaints About EVM Malfunctions Being Addressed: UP Chief Electoral Officer
The chief electoral officer of UP has said that complaints regarding EVM & VVPAT malfunction are being addressed immediately.
'Vote to Keep UP Riot-Free': PM Modi Addresses Rally in Saharanpur
"Some constituencies in western UP are voting for the 1st phase. I'm glad that on such winter mornings, people are going to vote in huge numbers. I appreciate all these voters," PM Narendra Modi said as he addressed a rally in Saharanpur on Thursday.
"The people of Saharanpur region have decided to vote for the one who will take UP to new heights of development. Will vote for the one who will keep UP riot-free," he stated.
"We will vote for the one who will keep our sisters and daughters free from fear. We will vote for the one who sends criminals to jail," he said. The prime minister added that the praise he has acquired from Muslim women has caused a stomach-ache for some.
Photos from the rally, shared by the BJP, showed a massive assembly of people, even as India continues to report a large case count of COVID-19.
'Voting Is the Biggest Donation': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges Voters to Come Out
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, whose son Pankaj is contesting the UP polls from Noida, urged people to go out and vote.
"Voting is the biggest donation in a democratic system. Today is the first phase of voting for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. I request all the voters that they must exercise their franchise and become a partner in the creation of new Uttar Pradesh," he tweeted.
Appeal to EC To Take Action at Poll Booths Where Voting Deliberately Slowed Down, EVMs Malfunctioning: Akhilesh
"There is an appeal to the Election Commission and at the same time it is expected that wherever there are allegations of EVM malfunctioning or deliberately slowing down the polling, it should immediately take appropriate action at those polling stations. 'Smooth and fair voting' is the biggest responsibility of the Election Commission," Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav said.
'Akhilesh & I Want To Work on Employment, Agriculture': RLD Chief
"Akhilesh and I want to work on the issues of employment, agriculture, much needed industrialisation in western UP," RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary was quoted as saying by ANI on Thursday. He also criticised Yogi Adityanath's statement, wherein the CM had said that if voters don't cast their votes wisely, UP would become like Kerala or Bengal.
Priyanka Gandhi Campaigns Door-to-Door in UP's Rampur
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi conducted a door-to-door campaign in Rampur on Thursday.
35.03% Voter Turnout Till 1 PM, Highest in Shamli & Hapur
A 35.03 percent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm in 58 assembly seats in 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh.
Agra: 37.02%
Aligarh: 32.06%
Baghpat: 38.03%
Bulandshahr: 37.05%
Gautam Buddh Nagar: 28.66%
Ghaziabad: 31.84%
Hapur: 40.12%
Mathura: 35.92%
Meerut: 34.37%
Muzaffarnagar: 35.55%
Shamli: 41.13%
UP Polls Phase-I: 35.03% Voter Turnout Till 1 PM
Unemployment a Major Poll Issue on UP: The Quint's Ground Report Explores Solutions
A huge issue across Uttar Pradesh is that of unemployment. For instance, in Hapur, even graduates have been forced to seek work under the MGNREGA.
The Quint's coverage of this issue hasn't just been about highlighting problems – we've tried to explore solutions to these issues in our conversations with political leaders. The BJP's Pankaj Singh, for instance, tried to provide his take on the challenges faced by homebuyers in Gautam Buddh Nagar. Read more here.
'BJP Will Keep UP Free From Patrons of Terrorists': JP Nadda
"We will keep UP riot-free, goonda-free, mafia-free, free from patrons of terrorists. Therefore, anti-terrorist commando centres will be built in Deoband, Meerut, Rampur, Azamgarh, Kanpur, and Bahraich. These centers will keep every citizen of UP fear-free," BJP President JP Nadda said at a rally in the state on Thursday.
Samajwadi Party Prez Akhilesh Yadav Holds Massive Rally in Bijnor
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addressed a massive rally in Bijnor, with the first phase of polling in UP underway.
'Youth, Farmers Pushing Button With Full Rage': SP Ally's Quip on Reports of EVM Malfunctions
"There are complaints about EVM malfunctioning. It seems youth and farmers are pushing the button in full rage!! Request you to press the button not so hard, in favor of the alliance with love," said RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, whose party has formed an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.
Chaudhary's remark comes amid reports of malfunctioning EVMs at some polling booths, and is a thinly veiled jibe alluding to the farmers' anger against the BJP.
District-Wise Voter Turnout Till 3 PM
Agra - 47.51%
Aligarh - 45.91%
Bagpat - 50.13%
Bulandshahr - 50.84%
Gautam Buddha Nagar - 47.25%
Gaziabad - 43.10%
Hapur - 51.63%
Mathura - 48.91%
Meerut - 47.74%
Muzaffarnagar - 52.17%
Shamali - 53.13%
UP Polls Phase-I: 48.24% Voter Turnout Till 3 PM
'Will Try to Cast Vote': RLD Chief Jayant Chaudhary
Stating that his wife voted in the morning itself, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary who is presently busy with rallies was quoted by ANI as saying:
"I'm a voter of Mathura. Right now, we are in Bijnor as there is just two days time for campaigning between the first and second rounds of Uttar Pradesh elections...After campaigning ends here,I'll try to vote at booths open till 6 pm."
Rakesh Tikait Casts Vote in Muzaffarnagar
BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote in Muzaffarnagar.
(Photo: PTI)
Visuals: Polling Underway in Different Parts of UP
Polling underway in Gautam Buddha nagar.
People stand in queues to cast their votes, during the first phase of UP Assembly polls, at a polling station at Saini village of Gautam Buddha nagar.
(Photo: PTI)
A woman casts her vote in Kairana.
(Photo: PTI)
Voters welcomed at polling booths in Ghaziabad with drums.
'If UP Becomes Like Kerala': Pinarayi Vijayan Responds to Adityanath's Barb
Hitting out at UP CM Adityanath for his “would not take much time for Uttar Pradesh to become Kashmir, Kerala, and Bengal” barb, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted:
“If UP turns into Kerala as Yogi Adityanath fears, it will enjoy the best education, health services, social welfare, living standards and have a harmonious society in which people won't be murdered in the name of religion and caste. That's what the people of UP would want."
Harassed & Boycotted: How Hindutva Vigilantes Target Muslim Vendors Across UP
In the run up to the UP Assembly Elections, The Quint specifically looked at the disturbing phenomenon of communal targeting of Muslim vendors in four different districts across West UP.
In Bulandshahr, a shoe seller was compelled to shut shop due to harassment, despite being in debt.
In Mathura, a harassed dosa seller changed his stall name from ’Sri Nath’ to ‘American’ dosa corner.
Meanwhile, Agra’s meat sellers struggle to get their license renewed.
UP Polls Phase-I: 57.79% Turnout Till 5 pm
Chief Electoral Officer Address the Press
Chief Electoral Officer on Thursday, 10 February, addressed the press regarding the first phase of voting for Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections.
"Polling has been conducted peacefully and no untoward incident was reported anywhere," he said.