More than 55 per cent voting was recorded in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on Thursday. 57 seats in eastern UP, spread across 10 districts, went to polls today. Among the most prominent candidates was Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is contesting his first assembly poll from Gorakhpur. Mr Adityanath offered prayers at Gorakhnath Temple before casting his vote from his stronghold this morning.
With voting for 292 out of the state's 403 assembly seats already over, the focus has shifted to the crucial Purvanchal region of the state, which has 111 seats - more than a quarter of the total.
The BJP had won 46 of the 57 seats in the 2017 polls. There are a total of over 2.14 crore voters in this phase.
The Chief Minister being in the contest this time has spurred expectations of a big victory in all nine assembly seats under the Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency. The Samajwadi Party has pitted the wife of late Upendra Dutt Shukla, a former BJP leader, against the Chief Minister. Azad Samaj Party founder Chandrashekhar Azad is also in fray from the seat.
The outcome in this phase will largely depend on the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Most Backward Castes (MBCs) who have influence on nearly 30 seats.
The 54 remaining seats will go to polls in the last phase of the election on March 7. The votes will be counted on March 10.
Here are the highlights on Phase 6 of the 2022 UP Election:
Till 6 pm, an average turnout of 55.8 per cent was recorded across the 57 UP constituencies that are voting today in the sixth phase of the crucial Assembly election.
Over 53 per cent voting was recorded till 5 pm in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on Thursday.
The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Around 2.15 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase.
So far, voting for 292 of the 403 Assembly seats has been completed. The final phase of polling in the remaining 54 seats will be held on March 7.
Amid the ongoing sixth phase of the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the Samajwadi Party (SP) saying that the ruling BJP government has made Purvanchal (East UP) an education hub while the SP had ignored it during their rule.
Stating that the BJP has freed Uttar Pradesh from mafia and musclemen, Shah said, "There was a time when kattas (indigenously built gun) were made in UP, today it makes missiles, which even Pakistan is afraid of."
About 47 per cent voting was recorded till 3 pm in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on Thursday.
The voting started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Around 2.15 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase.
Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav on Thursday said he has united with the Samajwadi Party president and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav to ensure the ouster of the BJP government in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the BJP's victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is necessary as the state is moving on the development path and it should not stop now.
In the sixth phase of polling being held today, the votes cast were in favour of the BJP, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the BJP's victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is necessary as the state is moving on the development path and it should not stop now.
Addressing an election meeting in UP's Jaunpur, PM Modi claimed that voting in the state so far has confirmed the victory of the BJP alliance. In the sixth phase of polling being held today, the votes cast were in favour of the BJP, the Prime Minister said.
"The BJP's victory in the assembly elections is necessary because Uttar Pradesh is moving on the path of development and it should not stop now," PM Modi said.
Amid the polling for the sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Thursday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party win of all the nine Gorakhpur seats.
Speaking with ANI, Mr Kishan said, "We will win all nine seats in the Gorakhpur Mandal. Voter turnout will be historic in the Purvanchal region. The BJP will get over 300 seats in the state."
Referring to Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, the MP said, "The construction of Ram temple is underway. Now, the people UP have decided to establish 'Ram Rajya' here."
Till 1 pm, an average turnout of 36.33% per cent was recorded across the 57 constituencies that are voting today in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Voting began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm today.
The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party's president Om Prakash Rajbhar, who has tied up with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh polls, on Thursday claimed the BJP is fighting for its existence in this election.
He asserted the BJP will not be able to even cross double-figure in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Claiming that the people of Uttar Pradesh are in the mood for "complete change", Mr Rajbhar said, "The condition of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has worsened in Gorakhpur district itself, the Samajwadi Party alliance has troubled him this time."
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Keshav Prasad Maurya took to Twitter and posted, "Expressing dissatisfaction on hearing the chants of 'Jai Sri Ram' will not stop the people from chanting it. People will chant 'Har Har Mahadev' in Kashi, 'Radhe Radhe' and 'Jai Sri Krishna' in Mathura-Vrindavan."
He added that the plan of the Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav to turn UP into West Bengal will never be fulfilled and that the 'Lotus' will bloom in UP.
Till 11 am, an average turnout of nearly 22 per cent was recorded across the 57 UP constituencies that are voting in the sixth phase of the crucial Assembly election today. Voting began at 7 am this morning.
As the sixth phase for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is underway, political leaders from BJP and alliance parties on Thursday exuded confidence in the win of the Bharatiya Janata Party by over 300 seats.
Nishad Party founder, Sanjay Nishad, who is in alliance with BJP, also said, "Is baar 300 paar (we'll win over 300 seats)."
On being asked about his chances of getting a cabinet post if BJP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Nishad said, "When BJP can make an ordinary Chaiwala's son as the PM, then the party can make the son of a Nishad anything."
BJP MP and former Union minister Shiv Pratap Shukla, after he casts his vote at Gorakhpur, said, "300 ki paar ki sarkaar" in this Assembly elections.
UP Minister Anand Swarup Shukla, contesting from Ballia, also spoke on the same lines and said, "There is a BJP and Yogi Adityanath wave in the state. We are confident that we will win over 350 seats."
BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Minister Anand Swarup Shukla, contesting from the Ballia constituency, casts his vote in the sixth phase of assembly polls on Thursday.
Speaking with ANI after casting his vote, the Minister said, "I appeal to the public to cast their vote. There is a BJP and Yogi Adityanath wave in the state. We are confident that we will win over 350 seats."
Uttar Pradesh minister Upendra Tiwari, contesting from Phephna Assembly seat also casts his vote at a polling station in Ballia and said that he is confident that BJP will win this term.
As the sixth phase for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections begin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to voters to exercise their franchise.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi requested all to participate in the polls: "The festival of democracy in Uttar Pradesh has entered its sixth phase today. It is my humble request to all the voters that they must participate in this festival with their votes. Every single vote of yours (is) the power of democracy!"
Union Minister Amit Shah also appealed to voters to choose a corruption-free government in the state.
In his tweet in Hindi, Mr Shah said, "Today is the sixth phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. I appeal to all the voters that only a strong government free from corruption and dynast can take Uttar Pradesh forward on the path of progress. Therefore, vote diligently to keep the state at the forefront of development."
On the day of polling for the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the elections have reached a decisive stage and each vote to ruling Bharatiya Janta Party is a step towards making the state India's number 1 economy.
Mr Adityanath said that it is time to decide between the BJP and terror-supporting people, apparently a swipe at Samajwadi Party (SP).
"Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections have reached the decisive stage. You have seen developmental projects in the last five years, be it from AIIMS inauguration to Kushinagar International Airport. It is time to decide between us and terror-supporting people. Each of your votes will make Uttar Pradesh India's No 1 economy," said Mr Adityanath.
The voting for 57 UP seats began at 7 am today and will continue till 6 pm. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cast his vote at Primary School Gorakhnath Kanya Nagar Kshetra, in Gorakhpur.
Fifty-seven seats of eastern Uttar Pradesh, spread across 10 districts, will vote today in the penultimate phase of election. Among the key candidates is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is contesting his first assembly poll from Gorakhpur. Read 10 facts here as voting begins.