UP 5th phase: 46 per cent polling

An estimated 46 per cent of the electorate on Saturday exercised their franchise for the fifth phase of elections to 57 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission announced.

Briefing newsmen, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said the polling was "very peaceful" and no major incidents were reported from anywhere in the nine districts which went to polls.

He said three persons were arrested on charges of breach of peace in Sultanpur constituency.

Asked to comment on reports that some people could not vote despite having Electors Photo Identity Cards, he said the identity cards were only a supporting document and the name should figure in the voters list.

Asked when the commission proposed to announce its decision on the Bharatiya Janata Party CD issue, Balakrishnan merely said no decision has been taken.

"No comments" was the response when pressured whether the decision was likely before the completion of the poll process.

BJP president Rajnath Singh cast his vote at the PWD office polling booth while Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati exercised her franchise at Sadar in the state capital.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could not come to the state capital from New Delhi to cast his vote due to ill health.

The fate of 850 candidates, including ministers Naresh Agarwal, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya and Rajaram Pandey as also opposition leader Lalji Tandon, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari and BSP legislative party leader Swami Prasad Maurya will be decided in this phase.

Officials said about 15,692 polling stations and 9,170 polling centres were set up for the polls. As many as 65,700 personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces had been deployed on poll duty to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

The districts that went to polls included Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Fetehpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Banda and Chitrakoot.