A woman gets her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote for the seventh and last phase of UP Assembly elections at a polling centre, in Badhoi. (PTI)Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2022 Highlights: Over 56 per cent turnout was recorded on Monday in 54 assembly seats, including in Varanasi, in the seventh and last phase of Uttar Pradesh polls, marking the end of the voting process spread over two months in the crucial state. Meanwhile, the exit polls have predicted a comeback for the BJP with the ruling party getting a comfortable majority in Uttar Pradesh with 211-225 seats.
Voting started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, except in Naxal-hit Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and the Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats where it concluded at 4 pm. Chandauli saw a relatively high turnout of 61.99 per cent and Varanasi 58.80 per cent.
The state has seen a decrease in voter turnout in the last three phases. In the previous six phases, the state recorded a turnout of 62.43 percent, 64.42 percent, 62.28 percent, 61.52 percent, 57.32 percent and 55.79 percent. The state had recorded 61.24 percent polling in the 2017 assembly elections.
BJP supporters attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign meeting in Varanasi (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastava)
A majority of the exit polls have predicted a second term for the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP in Uttar Pradesh and a landslide victory for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. The poll of exit polls has also given an advantage to the saffron party in the remaining states of Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.
Polling for the assembly elections, spread across seven phases in five states, concluded on Monday with UP voting in its final phase today. The results will be declared on March 10. Read More
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday and raised the issue of change in rules for appointment of top officers in Bhakra Beas Management Board and the safe return of Punjab students stuck in war-hit Ukraine.
Channi refrained from any direct comment on the exit polls that predicted a clear majority for AAP in Punjab. "The boxes (EVMs) will only tell what will happen... Wait for March 10 (the day of the election result)," he told reporters.
After meeting Shah, Channi told reporters that he has raised the issue of change of rules for appointment of top members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and has been assured by the Union home minister that the matter will be resolved soon. (PTI)
Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa describes the lull in Punjab since voting for the bitterly fought state election on February 20 thus: "Every day we keep doing calculations as to how many votes we will get from different booths, based on the feedback from our workers. Later we relax and end up saying let's wait for the results. This time the voter was very silent, especially in the last two days. Hence what can I say about the results?”
While all eyes have been on Uttar Pradesh for the past fortnight, the wait for March 10 has been unsettling but also welcome for political leaders in Punjab.
Dhindsa, for one, used the respite for a check-up in Delhi for a problem with his spine. The 85-year-old former Akali Dal leader who fought in alliance with the BJP says he is very hopeful of a good performance. “We contested 15 seats in alliance with the BJP and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC). We believe at least five-six of our candidates are in a strong position, while we are in the fight in every seat. " Read More
According to exit polls by India News, the BJP is predicted to win 23-28 seats while the Congress and its allies getting 10-14 seats. According to exit polls by Zee News-DESIGNBOXED, BJP will retain Manipur with 32-38 seats, while Congress allies’ seats will vary between 12-17.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday predicted a resounding victory for the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and the return of Akhilesh Yadav as the Chief Minister.
The Bihar leader of the opposition shares ideological affinity as well as family ties with the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, to whose nephew his younger sister is married. Both SP and RJD draw their support base primarily from the OBCs and the Muslim community.
“I think it is a one-sided contest in Uttar Pradesh. The people have decided to vote out Yogi Adityanath and the BJP and bring back Akhilesh Yadav and SP”, Yadav told reporters when asked about the keenly watched elections in the adjoining state. (PTI)
In Uttar Pradesh, all exit polls have predicted a comeback for the BJP with the ruling party getting a comfortable majority. The BJP will get 211-225 seats and the Samajwadi Party 146-160 seats, as predicted by News18. The Congress is predicted to get a maximum of 6 seats. India Today - Axis My India has predicted 288-326 seats for the BJP in UP.
In Goa, the Congress will get 16 seats, 2 more than the ruling BJP, the exit poll by Times Now has predicted. The AAP is shown to get 4 seats while Others gain 6 seats.
According to the exit poll by newsx, in Uttarakhand, Congress will get 33-35 seats with the BJP close behind with 31-33 seats. The AAP is shown to get 0-3 seats. The total number of seats inthe state is 70.
According to the exit poll by India Today-Axis, in Punjab AAP will have a clean sweep with get 76-90 seats. Congress will get 19-31, while BJP will get 1-4 seats and SAD will win 7-11 seats. The majority mark in Punjab is 59.
Dismissing pre-poll surveys that showed that the BJP had the edge in Uttar Pradesh elections, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed that the ruling party will be wiped out from the state when the results are declared on March 10.
"Let them show whatever they have got. We are winning with a majority," he said, dismissing predictions earlier on some TV channels.
Yadav spoke to PTI before the exit polls were scheduled to come up with their predictions on Monday evening, at the end of the final round of polling for the state assembly. He claimed that the SP-led alliance will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh with over 300 seats.
The SP chief slammed the ruling BJP for presenting “lies and fake data” during the campaign, and said people had realised this and instead voted for their future -- against inflation and unemployment and for growth. (PTI)
Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived here on Monday to discuss post-poll scenarios ahead of assembly election results on March 10. Gandhi, accompanied by the party leader Rajeev Shukla, reached the Jaipur airport where she was received by
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra. Party sources said she will hold discussions with the chief minister about post-poll scenario in the five states.
From the airport, Gandhi left for the hotel with Gehlot and others. (PTI)
A turnout of 46.40 per cent was recorded till 3 pm as Uttar Pradesh votes in the final leg of the Assembly elections on Monday.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has alleged that the ruling party can use "unfair" means during the counting of votes for the Uttar Pradesh elections on March 10.
Voting in the six assembly seats, including Muzaffarnagar, Budhana, Pyrkazi, Khatoli, Murapur and Charthawal were held in first phase on February 10.
The ruling party can use unfair means to win during the counting of votes to be held on March 10, the BKU leader said after visiting Navin Mandi here where EVMs are being kept. (PTI)
Ahead of the assembly poll results, BJP leaders and strategists in Uttarakhand have begun internal confabulations over the possible post-poll scenarios that may emerge in the state.
Party strategist Kailash Vijayvargiya arrived here on Sunday and was huddled with former Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank at the latter's residence to discuss how the party was likely to fare in the polls. He also held discussions with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Pradesh BJP president Madan Kaushik. An important party meeting to be attended by party poll in-charge for Uttarakhand Pralhad Joshi is also being held on Monday.
The poll results will be declared on March 10. (PTI)
UP minister Neelkanth Tiwari on Monday expressed confidence over a BJP win in South Varanasi. In 2017, BJP had sweeped all seats in the Varanasi district.
Tiwari said that Varanasi shares a "special bond" with PM Narendra Modi. It is also the Lok Sabha constituency of the PM. Tiwari also lauded the development works undertaken in Varanasi by the BJP government.
"There is no fierce battle between the SP and the BJP on the Varanasi South seat. The Opposition has tried all tactics. They have tried the SP-BSP alliance and the Congress-SP alliance in the past. They also fielded a big leader from here, who has been a three-time MP," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Just days before the results of the Assembly elections will be announced, BJP leaders met in Uttarakhand to discuss its plans. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed confidence over the party's win and said, "Everyone will be in their designated areas that day (results day) and ensure smooth counting."
Women lined up at a pink booth in Varanasi, which is also the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM as well as Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, had held several rallies in the district during the last leg of campaigning.
(PTI photos)
A turnout of 35.51 per cent was recorded till 1 pm Monday. The highest percentage was recorded in Chandauli (38.43%), followed by Mirzapur (38.10%) and Mau (37.08%).
Captain Amarinder Singh who was in Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the discussions were about Punjab in general. As the results haven't been announced, a detailed discussion on elections will take place later, he said.
On being asked about his party's alliance with the BJP and its performance in the polls, Singh said, "I am not a Pundit. I am not somebody who can predict. My party has done well. BJP has done well. Let us see what happens," according to ANI.
Women holding their identification cards wait in a queue to cast their vote in Jaunpur (PTI Photo)
Citizens wait to cast their vote outside a polling booth in Mirzapur. (PTI Photo)
Voters in Jaunpur (PTI Photo)
With the date for the Goa Assembly poll results nearing, the Congress has said it is open to a post-poll alliance with parties other than the BJP to form the next government, if it does not get a majority on its own. Elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly were held on February 14 and the results would be declared on March 10.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, All India Congress Committee's Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said if his party falls short of the majority mark of 21, it is open to seeking the support of outfits like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to form government.
Rao said after the final result is out, the Congress Legislature Party will waste no time in electing its leader. If the Congress gets majority, "we will stake claim to form government the same day", he said. (PTI)
OP Rajbhar, President, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) on Monday expressed confidence over winning the Assembly elections. "BJP and BSP will not win a single seat in Ghazipur, Mau, Azamgarh, Ambedkar Nagar and Ballia. We're winning on five of the eight seats in Varanasi, three of the four seats in Chandauli, seven of the nine seats in Jaunpur. We'll win 45-47 seats in the Purvanchal region," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
As of 11 am, a 21.55% voter turnout was recorded in the nine districts polling today. The highest percentage was recorded in Mau at 24.74 per cent, followed by Chandauli (23.43%) and Mirzapur (23.41%).
The other districts saw a turnout of: Azamgarh - 20.12%, Jaunpur - 21.84%, Ghazipur - 19.35%, Varanasi - 21.21%, Bhadohi - 22.24%, and Sonbhadra - 19.68%.
An elderly couple along with a handicapped woman reached a polling booth in Azamgarh on a bullock cart. "We don't want to waste our votes, that's why came on a cart," the couple was quoted as saying by ANI.
After casting her vote in the seventh phase of Uttar Pradesh polls on Monday, Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel told reporters, "I have cast my vote in Mirzapur. I am sure that all five seats in the constituency will be won our NDA candidates." Patel has entered into an alliance with the ruling BJP.
Congress leader and former UP minister Ajay Rai cast his vote in Varanasi on Monday. He stated that as compared to previous elections when long queues were seen outside polling booths, this time, the turnout is less. He blamed inadequate arrangements for the smaller queues. "People are forced to stand in sun. People don't seem to be excited," Rai was quoted as saying by ANI.
As Uttar Pradesh votes in the final leg of Assembly elections, a voter turnout of 8.58 per cent was recorded till 9 am Monday. The highest percentage was recorded in Mau at 9.99 per cent, followed by Jaunpur (8.99%) and Varanasi (8.93%).
In other districts, voter turnout was recorded as follows: Azamgarh - 8.08%; Ghazipur - 7.95%; Chandauli - 7.69%, Mirzapur - 8.84%, Bhadohi -- 7.43%; and Sonbhadra - 8.35%
BJP's Ratnakar Mishra, who had won the 2017 Assembly elections in Mirzapur, also arrived to cast his vote Monday.
Appealing to the residents of Uttar Pradesh to come out and vote, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, "There is enthusiasm among the voters. Your one vote will help ensure good governance in the state."
Stating that it's the last day for the "mahayagya" of democracy in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I request all the voters to participate in the seventh and last phase of the Assembly elections with full enthusiasm and create a new voting record."
Minister of State in Uttar Pradesh Ravindra Jaiswal cast his vote in Varanasi during the last phase of Uttar Pradesh elections. Speaking to news agency ANI, Jaiswal said, "Voting was delayed by around 40 mins at booth no 311 after the main power switch connected to the EVM remained off due to negligence by the polling officer here."
The BJP had won all three seats -- Varanasi North, Varanasi South and Varanasi Cantonment -- in 2017 and the party has repeated the sitting MLAs this time around. In the last lap of campaigning political bigwigs, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, had held roadshows and rallies in support of their candidates.
Mau has a sizeable number of Muslim and Rajbhar voters. The Samajwadi Party has fielded Mukhtar Ansari’s 29-year-old son Abbas Ansari, belonging to its ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). The BSP has fielded its UP unit chief Bheem Rajbhar from Mau, while the BJP has given ticket to a first-timer Ashok Singh.
In the run-up to the UP polls, the state government unveiled a statue of the 9th-century ruler Mihir Bhoj and laid the foundation stone for a statue of 11th-century king Suheldev. While Gurjars claim Bhoj’s legacy, Rajbhars assert their affinity to Suheldev. Rajputs, meanwhile, trace their roots to both the kings. In addition, the state government laid the foundation stone for a university named after Jat King Mahendra Pratap Singh. Just before the poll notification, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Azamgarh University will be named after Suheldev.
Over the last one month of the election campaign, Adityanath has invoked at least 70 such personalities —saints, local deities and freedom fighters. Read about them here
Duddhi and Obra, the only two Assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Uttar Pradesh, seem stuck in a time warp. The two seats in backward Sonbhadra district go to the polls on Monday — the last day of polling in the state — with the all-too-familiar issues of roti-kapda-makaan, besides clean drinking water, as their basic demands.
The four seats of the Naxal-hit tribal belt (besides Duddhi and Obra, Robertsganj and Ghorawal), which share their boundaries with Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, also have unemployment as a major issue. In 2017, the BJP won three out of four seats in this tribal belt, while its alliance partner, the Apna Dal(S), won one (Duddhi).
While the BJP is banking on the projects that it inaugurated in the past five years — a medical college, housing schemes, a project to provide clean drinking water — resentment has been building up since most of these schemes are yet to get off the ground. Read more
Voting in 54 seats across nine districts began 7 am Monday. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates!