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Below-average voter turnout
in UP in second phase

Prem Panicker in Lucknow

The second phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh passed off peacefully on Monday, with only stray incidents of violence reported from Kanpur, Farrukhabad and Mainpuri.

According to the initial figures made available to reporters by Principal Secretary (Home) Naresh Dayal, the voter turnout was below average. Most of the major towns recorded 35 to 45 percent voting. Lucknow recorded 37 per cent voting, Kanpur Nagar recorded 40 per cent, Agra 42 per cent and Mathura 43 per cent.

Among smaller towns Mainpuri recorded the highest voter turnout of 53 per cent, followed by Kheri (50 per cent), Banda (49 per cent), Jalaun (49.7 per cent), Ferozabad and Etah (50 per cent each) and Aligharh (49.5 per cent).

A huge cache of arms was seized by the police in Unnao. In Kanpur Nagar, rival communities tried to prevent voters from exercising their franchise.

In Farrukhabad, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party workers exchanged fire, but nobody was injured.

A head constable died when a gun accidently went off in Jalaun. In Mainpuri, clashes between BJP and SP supporters led to minor injuries on both sides.

Dayal told reporters that though the polling officially closed at 5 pm, those already in queue at polling stations at that time were allowed to caste their vote.

When the final figures are collated, Dayal said, the overall voting percentage would touch 50 to 53 per cent.

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