57 percent poll turnout in fourth phase of UP elections

New Delhi, Feb 19 (ANI): Over 57 percent polling was registered till 5 pm in the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections on Sunday.

Speaking to mediapersons at a press conference here today, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zuthsi said the polls went off peacefully without any untoward incident being reported from any of the constituencies.

Zuthsi informed that there was a substantial rise in poll percentage in comparison to previous assembly election in the same constituencies in 2007, which had recorded 43.84 percent of polling then.

56 constituencies spread in eleven districts, including Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Farukkhabad, CSM Nagar, Kannauj, Banda, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh, today went to polls in the fourth phase of UP polls.

Today's polling would decide the fate of several stalwarts and heavyweights including Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Congress party legislative leader Pramod Tiwari, BJP National vice president Kalraj Mishra and BSP Minster Nakul Dubey.

This phase would also decide the luck of Louis Khurshid, wife of Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid from Farukkhabad Sadar seat.

The Election commission had made elaborate arrangements for this phase also.

Besides state police force, PAC and central Paramilitary forces had been deployed in the election areas. Strict vigilance was kept in all eleven district borders and check posts.

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)