UP Assembly Election, 1st Phase Voting Updates: Polling began at 7am. (File)
UP Election 2022 Highlights: The battle for Uttar Pradesh began today with voting in 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state.
Polling began at 7 am and is being held in accordance with the Covid guidelines issued by the Election Commission. The voting will end at 6 pm.
UP elections 2022 will be held in seven phases - February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7.
Ministers whose fate will be decided in the first phase include Shrikant Sharma, Suresh Rana, Sandeep Singh, Kapil Dev Agarwal, Atul Garg and Chowdhury Lakshmi Narain.
As many as 623 candidates are in the fray in the first phase and around 2.27 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase. In 2017, the BJP bagged 53 of the 58 seats, while the Samajwadi Party and the BSP had got two seats each. One seat had gone to the Rashtriya Lok Dal.
UP Elections 2022 are perhaps the most keenly contested and politically significant election as it also has the most number of Lok Sabha seats that play a crucial role in general elections. All political parties are making a big election push in Uttar Pradesh with star campaigners drawing huge crowds at various rallies.
Here are the Highlights on UP Election Phase 1 Voting:
Remember 'bure din' under Congress to understand current 'acche din': Goa Chief MinisterGoa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday took a jibe at the previous Congress government, associating it with 'bure din' or bad days for people as against 'acche din' or good days witnessed under the current BJP dispensation and claimed only his party can provide a stable and development-driven administration in the state.
Congress leader Digambar Kamat was the chief minister from 2007 to 2012 after which the BJP came to power in the coastal state, which will vote on February 14 to elect a new assembly.
"The Congress has ruled in the past, but what they have given to the state is just scams," he said, addressing a public meeting at Mapusa, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present.
UP: Grooms, brides and newly-wedded couples turn heads at poll boothsSome delayed their 'baraats', some detoured after 'bidaai', while some came rushing to poll stations as brides-to-be, grooms-to-be and just-married couples displayed enthusiasm to vote on Thursday in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh polls.
As many as 58 assembly constituencies spanning 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh went to vote after days of strenuous electioneering by political parties in the run up to the poll day.
While voters in the region reached polling stations discussing politics and all things serious, the arrival of grooms and brides, both before and after their wedding, did lighten up their moods momentarily.
Punjab polls: Government announces paid holiday on Feb 20The Punjab government on Thursday said it has declared a paid holiday in the state on February 20 on account of polling.
"The date of polling shall be a paid holiday in respect of all persons employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or any other establishment situated in the state of Punjab and entitled to vote in the election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha-2022 on this day," an official statement read.
Goa polls: Despite parties' assurance to restart mining ops, voters feel promise will remain only on paperAll major political parties contesting the February 14 Goa Assembly elections, including BJP, Congress, AAP and TMC, have promised resumption of mining operations in the state, but voters feel that the assurance may not see the light of day as the issue has been raised just with an eye on polls and will be forgotten after that.
The mining industry, which used to be one of the major sources of revenue for Goa, had come to a grinding halt in the state in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.
During a public meeting held at Sanvordem assembly constituency, a mining-dominated belt around 70 kms from Panaji on January 30, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured that the iron ore mining industry in Goa will start functi
"I'll Try To Vote": Akhilesh Yadav's Ally Jayant Chaudhary Amid CriticismAs western Uttar Pradesh voted today in the first round of elections in the state, Jayant Chaudhary, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief, faced a backlash after saying he may skip voting because of his election rallies. Hours later, he amended his earlier statement and said he would "try" to cast his vote in Mathura.
"I'm a voter of Mathura. Right now, we're in Bijnor as there are just two days to campaign between the first and second rounds of the UP polls. My wife voted in the morning itself. After campaigning e
UP reports 48.24% voter turnout till 3 pm in first phase of Assembly electionsIn the first phase of the ongoing Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a voter turnout of 48.24 per cent was reported till 3 pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.
Baghpat witnessed the highest percentage of voter turnout of 38.03 per cent followed by Agra (37.02 per cent) and Mathura (35.92 per cent).
Muzaffarnagar reported a voter turnout of 35.55 per cent till 3 pm.
Voting for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections began on Thursday at 7:00 am.
Don't let UP turn into Kerala, Kashmir or Bengal, Yogi Adityanath tells voters
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked people to return the BJP to power or face the possibility of the state turning into a "Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal", Yogi Adityanath made the remark in a six-minute video message on Twitter, on the eve of Thursday's polling for the first phase of the assembly elections in UP.
The Chief Minister said he was concerned that rioters, whose activities were curbed by his government, are now feeling uneasy. Terrorists are making threats, he added.
"Be alert. If you miss this time, the five-year effort will be washed away. And it will take no time for UP to become Kashmir, Kerala or Bengal." "This vote will be your guarantee to a life without fear," Yogi Adityanath said in his appeal to voters.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra explains her party's manifesto for UP Assembly elections to a motor mechanic in Rampur
UP Elections: Utensil seller out to challenge Deputy Chief Minister Keshav MauryaHaving contested many elections both at the state and the national level in the past over two decades, a small-time utensil seller has entered the poll fray this time against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Chhedu Chamar has filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Sirathu assembly segment in Kaushambi district for the Uttar Pradesh elections. Maurya is fighting the polls from the same seat.
Up Polls: 35% voter turnout till 1pm
In the first phase of polling, Uttar Pradesh has recorded a 35.03% voter turnout at 1pm, according to data released by the Election Commission.
Government will get medical care to your doorstep :Rahul Gandhi in Uttarkhand
At a rally in Uttarakhand's Manglaur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says that if voted to power, their party will ensure that ambulances and medicines reach the doorstep of everyone who needs them.
BJP's manifesto is a pledge for 'Lok Kalyan', says PM Modi
BJP govt in Uttar Pradesh is very important to ensure small farmers keep on availing benefits of PM Kisan Yojana: PM Modi in Saharanpur rally.
Keep Uttar Pradesh riot-free, keep our sisters free from fear & send criminals to jail: PM Modi in address to Saharanpur rally
People Voting FOr Riots-Free UP: PM Modi
At a rally in Saharanpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "People Have Decided To vote for those who will ensure 'riots-free' UP."
PM Modi lauds voters for turning out in large numbers
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. BJP UP's 'ghoshna patra' is a resolution for welfare: PM Narendra Modi says during a rally in Saharanpur.
EVM and VVPAT Malfunction complaints being addressed immediately: Chief Electoral Officer
EVM & VVPAT malfunction complaints are being addressed immediately. Law and order is maintained at all polling stations, voting underway peacefully. A complaint of a person being stopped from voting in Agra has been found baseless: Chief Electoral officer, Uttar Pradesh.
"Confident Of Muslim Vote": Minister Sanjeev Balyan To NDTV On UP PollsBJP Leader Sanjeev Balyan said that the party is confident of winning a majority of the 58 assembly seats going to polls today. "Voting percentage for BJP will go up this time as in the last 5 years BJP has worked on developing infrastructure, electricity and other issues that affect people," Mr Balyan told NDTV.
Free country from all fears, come out and vote: Rahul Gandhi to peopleCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged people to come out and vote and free the country from all fears as polling for the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was underway.
Polling for 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state began in the morning.
8% voter turnout recorded till 9am
Nearly 7.93% of the eligible voters had cast their votes till 9am in the first phase of UP Assembly elections.
UP Elections 2022: Time to change government, says BSP chief Mayawati
With the beginning of the first phase of polling for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday said that it is time to make a decision whether people want a "sorrowful" state or protect their interests in the coming five years in the state.
UP Election 2022: JP Nadda urges people to vote to maintain progress of state
With the commencement of polling for the first phase of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Thursday urged the people to cast their vote to maintain the progress, happiness and prosperity of the state.
"The great people of Uttar Pradesh have seen UP becoming an Uttam Pradesh. Here the government of good governance has been seen to improve the administrative system. Today you have a golden opportunity to maintain the progress, prosperity and prosperity of the state. I request all of you, please exercise your right," said Nadda.
UP Polls: Jayant Chaudhary appeals people to elect a caring governmentRashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary appealed to people to come out in large numbers to cast their votes to elect a government to fulfil their aspirations with the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh commencing on Thursday morning in 11 districts.
"I request each and every one of you to step out of your houses and utilize your right to vote. Elect a government that cares about you. Please also inspire the people around you to do the same," he said.
Complaints against some EVMs in Shamli, machines being replaced
Shamli District Magistrate Jasjit Kaur said that they had received some complaints about EVMs and were replacing those machines. "Peaceful polling underway, no law and order situation anywhere," Ms Kaur told news agency ANI.
Amit Shah's request to voters: Elect a government that ensures well-beingWith the commencement of polling for the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday urged upon the people to cast their votes in maximum numbers to help elect a government which can provide security, well being and good governance along with development in the state.
Noida official says all Covid protocols being followed, urges people to voteI 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: Suhas LY, District Magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar
25% candidates in the fray today have criminal cases against themOut of 615 candidates in fray today, 156 (25%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) data.
UP Elections Phase 1 in Numbers
UP Polls 2022: Can BJP repeat 2017 performance in the region?While the BJP won 91 per cent of the 58 seats in the region in the 2017 elections, many believe in the possibility of a backlash by farmers in the aftermath of the protests over farm laws. After farmer leader Rakesh Tikait gave a call to punish the BJP, it was echoed by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions.
UP Elections 2022 Phase 1: Polling begins in 58 constituencies
Polling has begun in 58 constituencies spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state.
623 candidates in the fray today
As many as 623 candidates are in the fray in the first phase and around 2.27 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase.
- The battle for Uttar Pradesh - said to be the semi-final before the general election of 2024 - begins today.
- 58 constituencies in the crucial western part of the state, the hub of farmers' protest, go to polls amid a four-cornered contest.
- The counting of votes will be held on March 10.
- Results for election in four other states -- Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and Uttarakhand -- will also be announced the same day.