59 percent voter turnout in second phase of UP assembly polls

Lucknow, Feb 11(ANI): A total of around 59 percent voters on Saturday cast their vote for the 59 seats in nine districts in the second phase of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Polling for the second round was largely reported to be peaceful in nine districts of Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and Ghazipur.

"An estimated 59 per cent electorate cast votes in the second round," state Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told reporters here.

Sinha further said that Kushinagar District recorded the highest 63 per cent voting and Deoriya and Ballia 54 per cent each, the lowest, during this phase of polls.

Today's polling will decide the fate of many senior leaders, including speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar, Revenue Minister Phagu Chauhan, state presidents of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), deputy leader of Samajwadi Party (SP) Ambika Chaudhary, 31 MLAs and 24 former ministers.

Congress, ruling BSP and SP have fielded their candidates in all 59 constituencies while BJP has left four seats for its ally Janwadi Party. Maximum 31 are in contest from Gorakhpur Urban seat while minimum 23 candidates are in fray from Saidpur reserved constituency.

An impressive 62 to 64 percent voter turnout was recorded on Wednesday registered in the first phase of assembly elections for 55 seats.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

A new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)