UP polls: 57 pc voting during 4th phase

New Delhi: Polling for the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 56 seats spread over 11 districts recorded a high 57 per cent turnout till 5 pm.

"Polling for the fourth phase covering 11 districts started at 7 am amidst tight security arrangements and 8.66 per cent votes were cast in the first two hours," Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said.

A maximum 12 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Fatehpur district. Polling started on a slow note in bastion of Gandhi family CSM Nagar and Rae Bareli where voter turnout was 9 per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, Lucknow saw a record turnout of 56 per cent. This is the first time it has crossed 50 per cent in the city. It was 36 per cent in 2007.

The fourth phase would decide the fate of three ministers, 32 sitting MLAs and 12 former ministers.

More than 1.74 crore voters are expected to cast their vote to seal the fate of 967 candidates in the polling to be held in Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Farrukhabad, CSM Nagar, Kannauj, Banda, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh.

Stakes are high for ruling BSP, Congress, SP and the BJP in the no holds barred fight for the 403 Assembly seats. This phase has 103 candidates with criminal cases pending against them, besides 139 'crorepatis'.

The fourth phase would test fate of several stalwarts and heavyweights including three ministers, 32 sitting MLAs, 12 former ministers, national vice-president of BJP Kalraj Mishra and Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

In a few hours from now we'll know if the the Kushwaha factor will help the BJP in Banda district of Bundelkhand? And if the BSP will be able to defend the 25 seats that it had won in 2007.

Many are wondering how the Congress will fare in its strongholds like Rae Bareilly. This is also a phase in which the Congress' Muslim quota card will be put to test in central Uttar Pradesh.

Will the Congress' strategy of fielding OBC candidates to dent Mulayam succeed and will Mulayam's Muslim-Yadav formula work again in his bastion in Kannauj.

In this phase, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kalraj Mishra is making his debut in electoral politics from Lucknow east seat, whereas UPPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi is in fray from Lucknow Cant seat.

This phase would also test the luck of Louis Khurshid, wife of Union law minister Salman Khurshid from Farrukhabad Sadar seat.

Synonymous with empowerment of women in Bundelkhan region and leader of Gulabi gang Sampat Pal would also be in the fray as Congress candidate.