Over 25% turnout recorded in 8 LS seats in Uttar Pradesh till 11 am

In eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh where voting is currently underway, an average voter turnout of 25.20 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.

 

Polling began at 7 am and according to the Election Commission, till 11 am, 29.84 per cent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 23.35 per cent in Moradabad, 25.89 per cent in Kairana, 26.89 per cent in Nagina, 26.94 per cent in Pilibhit, 25.50 per cent in Bijnor, 20.71 per cent in Rampur and 22.62 per cent in Muzaffarnagar.

 

These seats fall in the Jat and sugarcane belt of the state.

 

Among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase are the BJP's Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, Union minister Sanjeev Balyan from Muzaffarnagar and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina.

 

The ruling BJP has joined hands with the Rashtriya Lok Dal, while the Samajwadi Party has allied with the Congress for the election. The Bahujan Samaj Party has decided to go solo.

 

A total of 80 candidates -- 73 men and 7 women -- are in the fray in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.