UP records 57% turnout

The Phase 2 of the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh saw a projected voter turnout of nearly 57 per cent, which is likely to report a marginal rise.

UP chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa said 56 per cent voting was recorded in eight constituencies — Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr.

Rinwa reported that the polling process was peaceful across all eight LS seats, with no untoward incidents reported. Around 150 complaints were addressed swiftly, mainly concerning faulty

Phase 2 has been too good! Gratitude to people, who voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Oppn even more. Voters want NDA’s good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.

—Narendra Modi, PM after the voting was over

EVMs, power supply issues, slow polling, and identification document problems. A polling agent was initially asked to leave but was later allowed to stay following a complaint from a political party.

Tragically, in Amroha, 70year-old Ameena Khatoon collapsed and died of cardiac arrest in a polling booth after casting her vote.

In Khair assembly segment of Aligarh LS seat, villagers in Lalgarhi initially boycotted polling to protest the lack of development in their area. However, officials managed to persuade them to vote, resulting in partial voting.

The Phase 2 saw prominent candidates, including actorsturned-politicians Hema Malini seeking re-election from Mathura and Arun Govil, who portrayed Ram in Ramayan, contesting from Meerut. Other contenders are Danish Ali of Congress from Amroha, and Atul Garg and Mahesh Sharma from BJP, contesting from Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar respectively.