UP Municipal Election 2023: 1st phase of polling concludes; over 45% voter turnout recorded

A voter turnout of over 45 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the first phase of the urban local body elections in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The voting commenced at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. According to the State Election Commission (SEC), Varanasi recorded a polling percentage of 38.89, Lucknow 35.42 and Prayagraj 30.32

The state has recorded 35.18% polling till 3 pm. Meanwhile, Lucknow recorded a 41.28% voter turnout in Nagar Nigan and Nagar Panchayat regions. 

"Karnataka is with PM Modi. In this nation, who will accept it if someone says that we will ban Bajrang Dal? How can they ban those who think for betterment of the country? Bajrang Dal has never done any anti-national activity. If you will talk about banning Bajrang Dal then all the Bajrangi who have blessings of lord Hanuman will show Congress its place," Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said.

Here's the polling percentage till 3 pm in Prayagraj

• Municipal corporation - 23.00%
• Nagar panchayat - 39.23%
• Nagar Panchayat Sirsa - 43.29%
• Nagar Panchayat Lalgopalganj - 36.69%
• Nagar Panchayat Phulpur - 39.68%
• Nagar Panchayat Shakargarh - 33.12%
• Nagar Panchayat Koraon - 40.96%
• Nagar Panchayat Handia - 38.75%
• Nagar Panchayat Bharatganj - 42.33%Nagar Panchayat Mauaima - 42.22%

The news of massive stone pelting has been reported from Amroha during the voting. According to reports, the incident occurred after two groups clashed over "fake voting" at the polling booth. 

UP civic election is being held in two phases. Today the first phase of the election is taking place. Forces have been deployed to ensure trouble-free voting... senior police officials are also monitoring the situation to ensure the same, says Prashant Kumar, Special DG Law & Order, UP.

Nearly 19 per cent voters turned up to exercise their franchise in the first four hours of polling for the first phase of the urban local body elections in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

According to the State Election Commission (SEC), polling percentage of 28.13 was recorded in Shravasti, followed by 27.5 per cent in Shamli.

The polling percentage in Prayagraj was 9.68 while Ghazipur's polling percentage stood at 0.08 per cent, the SEC said.

Prominent among those who cast their vote are Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who cast his vote at a booth in Gomti Nagar here, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur, BSP chief Mayawati and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow.

While talking to reporters in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said, "The weather is pleasant in May. I think it is God's blessing so that people can elect a good urban government and cast their votes. The state election commission has made all necessary arrangements to conduct the elections. I appeal to all to cast their votes."

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at a school in the Mall Avenue area here, Mayawati said, "Our party is contesting the polls alone. I hope that my party will get a good response and the results will be good."

Asked about reports of malfunctioning of EVMs at some places, District Magistrate, Lucknow, Suryapal Gangwar said all such EVMs were replaced.

Voting in the first phase of civic elections was halted temporarily at a polling station in UP's Moradabad due to a technical snag in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), an official said on Thursday.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak casts his vote in the first phase of Municipal Elections in Lucknow.

"I appeal to all the voters of Lucknow to cast their votes for the UP Municipal Elections 2023," said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after casting vote for UP Municipal Elections 2023.

Voting percentage in Mainpuri:

• Municipal Council - 11.1 % 
• Jyoti Khudia - 16% 
• Bhogaon - 10.4% 
• Bevar - 10.5%
• Kishni - 11% 
• Kusmara - 11.8% 
• Karhal - 10.3% 
• Barnahal - 12% 
• Ghiror - 12.4% 
• Kurawali - 11.5%

WATCH | Mayawati on her party fighting municipal elections without the support of other parties. 

Our party is fighting this election alone without support of any other party. We are hopeful that our party will receive a good response & we will get positive results. I want all the citizens of the state to cast their vote for this election, said BSP Chief Mayawati today. 

The voting, which commenced at 7:00 am, will continue till 6:00 pm, officials said. According to the State Election Commission (SEC), voters in 37 districts will exercise their franchise in the first phase of the polls to elect 7,593 representatives, including 10 mayors and 820 corporators. These elections will pose a key test for the parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

The counting of votes will take place on May 13 in Uttar Pradesh Municipal Elections 2023.

The polling for the second phase will take place on May 11 to elect representatives for the posts across 760 local bodies in the state. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

In 10 municipal corporations, voting will be held in 830 wards, 9699 polling places and 2658 polling stations are set up in Municipal Corporations. There are 6303542 male and 5362151 female voters in Municipal Corporation.

The first phase of voting will be held in 37 districts Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Mainpuri, Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Unnao, Hardoi, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur, Shravasti, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli and Jaunpur of 9 divisions of Uttar Pradesh i.e. Saharanpur, Moradabad, Agra, Jhansi, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Devipatan, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. 

In the first phase, voting will be held in 37 districts of 9 divisions and 10 municipal corporations. In 10 municipal corporations, voting will be held in 830 wards, 9699 polling places and 2658 polling stations are set up in Municipal Corporations. 

According to official figures, in the UP urban body elections, 2 crores 40 lakhs voters will use their right to vote to choose/elect 10 mayors, 820 councillors, 103 municipal council presidents, 2740 member municipal councils, 275 presidents including 3645 municipal council members in the 37 districts of Uttar Pradesh. 

The first phase of voting for the Uttar Pradesh urban body elections began on Thursday (May 4).