Robust 72.8% turnout in semi-urban areas

LUCKNOW: Although semi-urban voters of the eight nagar panchayats in Lucknow turned up late to exercise their franchise, the polling percentage of these areas was way ahead of that recorded in the city. The voting percentage of the nagar panchayats of Amethi, Itaunja, Kakori, Nagram, Gosainganj, Bakshi Ka Talab, Malihabad and Mahona was a robust 72.8% -- nearly 34% more than the urban area . Till 10am on Sunday, just about 10% semi-urban voters had cast their votes.

However, the numbers swelled post that and till 12 pm, the polling percentage climbed up to 27. Till 2 pm, the turnout was up by another 20 points -- standing at 47%. Around 25% more voters arrived during the last three hours, taking the overall percentage to 72.8. “Early turnout was low in semi-urban areas. This was due to low temperatures in the morning, when people, especially the elderly and the women, prefer staying indoors. Women also often prefer completing household chores before stepping out,” said Ram Sajeevan, a polling agent and resident of Kakori .

In the morning, mostly young male voters or those directly associated with the candidates had cast their votes, he added.

Another polling agent, Rajesh Kumar, said the voting was highest during the last three hours as the candidates started looking for voters who had not yet exercised their franchise, and urged them to vote.