In Uttar Pradesh, above 57 per cent votes have been cast in phase three Assembly elections in 56 constituencies spread over 10 districts from Faizabad, Varanasi, Allahabad and Vindhyachal Dham divisions.

Chief Electoral Officer of the State, Umesh Sinha told our Lucknow correspondent that maximum 67 per cent votes have been cast in Sakaldiha constituency in Chandauli district and Marihan in Mirzapur districts. Both districts are Naxal infested.

AIR Correspondent reports that in most of the constituencies from Sultanpur and Chandauli districts above 60 per cent votes have been polled.

Every constituency in this phase have recorded significant increase in voting in comparison of 2007 Assembly and 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

In Allahabad North constituency, only 24 per cent votes were cast in last assembly elections while in today’s polling, it has doubled to 48 per cent.

Similarly, Varanasi South, Cantonment and North constituencies had voted about 31 per cent in last assembly election but in today’s polling, 50 to 55 per cent voting has been recorded in all the three segments.

Naxal infested Chandauli district has recorded more than 10 per cent increase in polling as all four segments have polled 52 to 65 per cent votes.

In last assembly elections, only 42 per cent votes were cast in the district.

The voting was peaceful. Barring few incidents of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines, EVMs, in some booths, the polling was reportedly smooth and peaceful under a tight security.

Now political fate of 1018 candidates, including 77 women, has been sealed in electronic voting machines.