Lucknow, May 13 (UNI) An estimated 56.35 percent of 2.47 crore voters cast their votes till 5 pm in 13 seats in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha election on Monday.
According to the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), a maximum of 62.72 percent votes were polled in Khiri while Kanpur recorded a minimum turnout of 50.91 percent.
In Kannauj, where Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav is facing a challenge from sitting MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Subrat Pathak, 59.05 percent votes were polled till 5 pm.
Among other constituencies, 5152 percent votes were polled in Shahjahanpur, 62.72 in Dharaura 60.9 percent in Sitapur, 55.73 percent in Hardoi, 54.73 percent in Misrikh, 53.97 percent in Unnao, 56.93 percent in Farrukhabad, 54.35 percent in Etawah, 55.22 percent in Akbarpur and 55.97 percent in Bahraich.
As the polling began, there were reports of glitches on EVMs, but the poll officials said that the issue was resolved immediately. Besides, there were also reports of boycott of the polling process in some places, but it was not confirmed officially.
UP CEO Navdeep Rinwa, said that polling is being held between 7 am to 6 pm at 26,588 polling booths spread over 16,334 polling stations in this phase. "Out of the total polling stations, 4,715 have been identified as critical," he said.
Rinwa said, "The 13 Lok Sabha seats for which polling is being held are Shahjahanpur, Kheri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi, Mishrikh, Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur, and Bahraich. Besides, a bye-election for the Dadraul assembly seat in Shahjahanpur district is also being held simultaneously."
He said that out of the 13 seats, eight seats are of the general category and five seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. "These 13 seats are spread over 13 districts of the state -- Shahjahanpur, Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Kanpur Nagar, Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etah, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kannauj and Bahraich."
The CEO said that a total of 2.47 crore voters, including 1.31 crore male and 1.15 crore female, are eligible to decide the fate of 130 candidates, including 16 female, who are in the fray in this phase.
He said that to maintain a close vigil, three special observers, 13 general observers, nine police observers, and 17 expenditure observers have been deployed. "In addition to this, 2,920 micro observers, 2,250 sector magistrates, 287 zonal magistrates, and 111 static magistrates have been deployed," Rinwa said.
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