UP Elections 2022: PM Modi urges voters to participate in 'holy festival of democracy'
New Delhi, February 10: As the first phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commence on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all the voters in the state to participate in the "holy festival of democracy" by exercising their franchise while adhering to Covid norms.
"Today is the first phase of voting in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. I request all the voters to participate enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy by following the rules of Covid-19. Remember - Vote first, then refreshments!" the Prime Minister tweeted in Hindi.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also urged the eligible people of UP to cast their votes in maximum numbers and help in electing a government that can provide security, well being and good governance along with development in the state.
"Today is the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. I appeal to all the brothers and sisters of this phase of polling to vote in maximum numbers to elect a government that will give security, respect and good governance along with development in the state," Shah tweeted.
Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022 1st Phase Live Updates: Polling begins for 58 seats
"Your one vote is the basis of the bright future of Uttar Pradesh," he added.
Polling for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections 2022 on 58 assembly seats covering 11 districts began at 7 am on Thursday. It will continue till 6 pm.
The first phase of polling will cover the 'Jat-dominant belt' of the western UP.
The districts in Uttar Pradesh where the elections 2022 will be held are Shamli, Hapur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra. There are a total of 403 seats in the state.
As many as 623 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the UP elections and around 2.27 crore people are eligible to vote in this phase.
The ministers whose electoral fate will be decided in the first phase are Suresh Rana, Atul Garg, Shrikant Sharma, Sandeep Singh, Anil Sharma, Kapil Dev Agarwal, Dinesh Khatik, Dr G S Dharmesh and Chaudhary Laxmi Narain.
With the election campaign for the first phase of assembly polls in western Uttar Pradesh coming to an end on Tuesday evening, nearly 50,000 paramilitary personnel from 412 companies of central paramilitary forces were deployed at various sites to ensure law and order.
The state's borders have been sealed, and strict vigilance is being maintained to keep the peace in the 58 assembly constituencies that will vote today.
The 403-member UP Assembly is slated to go to the polls in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7, with the counting of votes on March 10.
Also read | On Assembly elections' eve, PM Modi exudes confidence of BJP's win in all 5 states
-PTC News
