Voting begins for 2nd phase of UP elections

Polling for the second phase of elections in the 58 constituencies spread over 10 districts of western Uttar Pradesh began on Friday amid tight security.

Over 1.60 crore voters, including 75 lakh women, would decide the fate of 881 candidates in this phase.

There are 15,887 polling booths in 8,479 polling centres arranged for the polls and over 18,400 EVMs will be used in this phase.

Besides central observers, 100 micro-observers had also been appointed to keep an eye on election process for this phase, officials said.

About 65,000 personnel of paramilitary force had been deployed.

Keeping in mind the low percentage of votes cast in the first phase, the Commission had directed the returning officers to find out reasons of low polling, if any.

Prominent among those whose political fortunes will be decided on Friday are Rajbir Singh and Prem Lata Verma, son and daughter-in-law respectively of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.

Rajbir has thrown his hat into the ring from Debai and Prem Lata from Atrauli.

All sensitive constituencies have been identified and special security measures taken to ensure peaceful voting there, officials said.