61.16 pc turnout in UP third phase; polling peaceful

New Delhi: The third phase of assembly election in Uttar Pradesh today witnessed 61.16
per cent turnout of a 2.4 crore electorate and the polling was peaceful. Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Election Commissioners Vijay Dev said these figures were based on reports received till 1700 hrs and it was expected to cross 63 percent as people were still standing in long queues.

"Like the first and second phase, the polling in the third phase of Uttar Pradesh was also peaceful and incident-free," Mr Dev said. Mr Dev congratulated the voters, political parties and other organisations for ensuring free and fair election in the region. A total of 826 candidates' fates have been sealed in EVMs in today's phase for 69 seats spread across 12 districts.

The polling for the Hindi heartland which has 403 constituencies is scheduled in seven phases.
Mr Dev said out of 826 candidates, 105 were women.  A record seizure of liquor, cash and other items were made during this phase. He said Rs 38.40-crore in cash and 2.04-lakh-litre liquor have been seized during the third phase.

So far, Rs 110.5 crore have been seized and 18.65 lakh litres liquor have been confiscated in the state, Mr Dev said. Massive crackdown was carried out on trouble makers and strict action was taken on more than 2.5 lakh miscreants while the weapon deposition this time was more than 80 per cent, Mr Dev said. He said in 2012, assembly elections in the state, the voter turnout for this area was 59.9 while it was 58.4 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.  (UNI)