Elections 2022: 55 of 403 seats in UP, all 70 in Uttarakhand and all 40 in Goa went to polls today.
Polling was held today for all 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand and 40 constituencies in Goa, as well as for 55 out of 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh, in the second phase of the 2022 Assembly Elections.
Voting, which is being held in accordance with Covid guidelines issued by the Election Commission, began at 7 am and concluded at 5 pm in Uttar Pradesh. In Goa (which started polling at 7 am) and Uttarakhand (which opened at 8 am), polls closed at 6 pm.
As per the Election Commission, while Uttarakhand recorded 61.58 per cent voter turnout in the Assembly elections, Goa achieved 78.94 per cent voter turnout while Uttar Pradesh recorded 62.99 per cent polling for the 55 seats.
In Uttar Pradesh, of the 55 seats going to polls in this phase, the ruling BJP had won 38 in 2017, while the Samajwadi Party (SP) had bagged 15 and the Congress two. The SP and the Congress had contested the last Assembly election in an alliance. The state is having a seven-phase election.
Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which the BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and three independents.
In the 2022 polls, the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is being challenged by Congress, Trinamool Congress and Aam Admi Party (AAP) in a multi-cornered electoral contest in Goa.
BJP is hoping to win a second term in Uttarakhand, which has seen 11 Chief Ministers in the last two decades.
Here are the Highlights on Elections 2022 Phase 2 Voting:
Congress-led UPA did not have courage to respond to terror attacks, says Amit ShahUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday targeted the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government alleging that it "lacked courage" to respond to Pakistan-backed terror attacks. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government conducted an airstrike at terror target in Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack.
"During SP, BSP-supported Congress rule, any Tom, Dick and Harry would enter India from Pakistan and behead our jawans. The government did not have the courage to do anything. On the other hand, after the Pulwama attack, Modiji conducted an airstrike across the border," he said at a rally in Jhansi.
He said defence corridor project in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi will help India "teach a lesson to Pakistan".
BJP urges Election Commission to ban Punjab Congress chief Navjoy Singh Sidhu from campaigningThe BJP on Monday urged the Election Commission (EC) to ban Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning in the ongoing assembly polls and register a criminal case against him and his party, alleging that he was promoting hatred and division in the society with his comments.
A BJP delegation, including Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, met the EC with a memorandum and claimed that Mr Sidhu had insulted Brahmins with a "derogatory" reference with an aim to divide Punjabis.
Mr Sidhu had also recently made an appeal to Muslims in the state that their votes should not be divided, the BJP noted.
Mr Naqvi said the Congress leader's comments are in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the Indian Penal Code as well.
He also accused opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh of trying to hinder Muslim women from voting and asked the EC to look into it.
To Yogi Adityanath's "Garmi" Comment, Akhilesh Yadav's "Thanda" ComebackClaiming "historic voting" for the SP-RLD candidates, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the people have subdued the "garmi" (haughtiness) of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the first two phases of the UP assembly elections.
Mr Yadav took on Mr Adityanath saying he used to claim ahead of the elections that "khoon ki garmi" (haughtiness, enthusiasm) of the SP and RLD leaders would be subdued after the elections.
"After the first two phases, the people have pacified 'garmi' of those who were saying garmi nikal denge after the elections," Mr Yadav said while addressing an election rally in the Bundelkhand region.
"Now after the third phase, the people of Bundelkhand will make him 'thanda' (cool down)," he said. He addressed rallies in Jhansi, Hamirpur and Mahoba.
Punjab elections: Farmer union leader among 2 arrested for attacking BJP candidate in LudhianaA farmer union leader was among the two people arrested on Monday in connection with the attack on BJP candidate, Sucha Ram Ladhar, from Ludhiana's Gill constituency police said.
Mr Ladhar was injured and hospitalised after his car was attacked Sunday evening. The 63-year-old retired IAS officer was returning from a village in his constituency after campaigning when the attack took place.
Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party synonymous with 'corruption, commission and crime': BJP presidentBJP president JP Nadda targeted the Samajwadi Party on Monday and said it was synonymous with "corruption, commission and crime" as he canvassed for his party candidates in the ongoing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Nadda addressed election rallies in favour of his party candidates in Kasta, Dhaurhara and Kursi assembly constituencies of Barabanki and Lakhimpur Kheri districts.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is making lofty promises to farmers nowadays, but he had done nothing for them when in power, the BJP president charged.
He also listed various achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Mr Nadda alleged that the erstwhile governments led by the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party encouraged "mafia raj" in Uttar Pradesh and allowed goons to unleash a reign of terror, but the BJP dispensation led by Mr Adityanath eliminated them.
He further said that PM Modi has given Rs 1.8 lakh crore to more than 10 crore farmers of the country under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
Sonia Gandhi not among Congress star campaigners for 6th phase of UP pollsCongress president Sonia Gandhi does not figure among the party's star campaigners for the sixth phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh on March 3.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and chief ministers of Congress-ruled states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh are among those named by the party as its star campaigners in Uttar Pradesh.
Sonia Gandhi has not so far campaigned in this election season even though she figures among the star campaigners of the party in some states, including Manipur.
She was not among the star campaigners for the assembly phase that includes constituencies falling under her Lok Sabha seat of Rae Bareli.
UP Polls: Son of jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari files nomination from father's strongholdJailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Abbas Ansari on Monday filed his nomination papers from Mau Sadar seat as a candidate of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, an ally of the Samajwadi Party.
"As the administration was creating hurdles in filing my father's nomination papers, I have filed the nomination today," Abbas Ansari told reporters.
He alleged that the senior Ansari had been "unconstitutionally" kept in jail and that he will go to the people and take up their issues.
Mau will go to polls in the seventh and last phase on March 7. Mukhtar Ansari, currently lodged in Banda jail, is a five-term MLA and has been representing the Mau Sadar seat since 1996.
UP Polls: Samajwadi Party protests distribution of tablets in Kannauj college, claims violation of election guidelinesThe Samajwadi Party on Monday alleged that tablets were distributed to students at a college in UP's Kannauj, in violation of the model code of conduct for elections.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Gajendra Kumar, however, said the tablets were distributed after permission from the Election Commission (EC).
Over 100 students were given tablets in the PSM College this morning, the party claimed. When the SP leaders came to know about this, they reached the college and protested.
College Principal Ajay Singh said that the tablets were distributed following an order of the ADM. He said that students were asked not to share their photos or videos on any social networking site.
The district president of SP's student wing, Anant Yadav, alleged that BJP was violating the EC's guidelines openly and asked EC observers to take note of the incident.
PM Modi lashes out at Rahul Gandhi at Punjab rally
UP Polls: Elderly Woman Comes In Ambulance From Hospital To Cast Her Vote In SaharanpurA 70-year-old woman undergoing treatment in a hospital in Saharanpur, came to a polling booth in an ambulance to cast her vote during second phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
Naresh Chauhan was taken on a stretcher to the polling booth, where she exercised her voting right.
BJP corporator Puneet Chauhan told news agency PTI that his mother is seriously ill and that he did not want her to cast her vote in this condition, but she expressed a strong desire to vote and so, it was honoured.
"I have voted in all elections since I attained voting age": 100-year-olds cast ballot in UttarakhandA 100-year-old woman was among the voters who turned up at Booth Number 47 in Kotdwar to exercise their franchise as Uttarakhand went to polls on Monday.
"I am 100 years old. I have voted in all the elections since I attained the age of voting. I like to vote," Vishweshwari Devi Naudiyal told reporters even as she stretched her voting finger to show the indelible ink mark.
Clad in a yellow saree, Naudiyal walked about 200 metres from her house to the polling booth with some help from her great-grandchildren.
"We advised her not to venture out if she was not too keen. But she insisted otherwise," one of her great-grandsons said.
A similar incident was witnessed at Kapkot in Bageshwar district where 100-year-old Narayan Singh Kapkot arrived at Booth Number 46 to cast his vote.
Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi Among 30 Star Congress Campaigners For Phase 2 Of Manipur PollsAhead of the Manipur Assembly polls, Congress on Monday released a list 30 of star campaigners for the second phase of the Manipur assembly election to be held on March 5.
Former chief Rahul Gandhi, Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh, former CM Okram Ibobi Singh, and Kanhaiya Kumar will campaign for the party in Manipur.
Goa clocks over 75% voter turnout, Uttarakhand at over 59% polling till 5 pmGoa recorded a voter turnout of 75.29 per cent in the second phase of the 2022 Assembly Elections till 5 pm, while Uttarakhand saw a 59.37 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm.
Both Goa and Uttarakhand went to polls for all assembly seats -- 40 in Goa and 70 in Uttarakhand respectively. Voting in the second phase of the elections ended at 6 pm.
UP Elections: Uttar Pradesh at over 60% voter turnout till 5 pmUttar Pradesh recorded a 60.44 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm on Monday in the second phase of the ongoing Assembly elections, for 55 out of 403 seats.
Till 5 pm, Saharanpur recorded a turnout of 67.13 per cent, Bijnor 61.48 per cent, Moradabad 64.88 per cent, Sambhal 56.93 per cent, Rampur 60.30 per cent, Amroha 66.19 per cent, Budaun 55.91 per cent, Bareilly 57.88 per cent and Shahjahanpur 55.25 per cent. The overall turnout till then was 60.44 per cent.
The same districts had recorded an average turnout of 65.53 percent in the 2017 assembly polls and 63.13 percent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
A turnout of 62.4 percent was recorded in the first phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on February 10.
Voting for the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections began on Monday at 7 am and closed at 5 pm today.
UP Elections Phase 2: Two villages in Shekhupur Assembly constituency boycott polls over contaminated water supplyPeople of two villages -- Narau and Milaal Nangla -- in Shekhupur assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district on Monday said that they have boycotted the voting for the second phase of the state Assembly election over contaminated water supply.
While talking to ANI, Badaun Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) BP Sharma said, "Even before this call by a few villagers, we spoke to them...For this, a plan has been chalked out that has been prepared by the municipal council. We have also spoken to the villagers that we are making full efforts by engaging higher officials from the government level to solve this problem."
"We are trying that the villagers should exercise their voting rights. Efforts are still going on. Although the voting has been started, not all the eligible people have voted yet," he said.
The villagers have said that they will not vote until the problem of contaminated drinking water is resolved. They claimed that many people have died and many are suffering from serious diseases.
Uttarakhand Polls: Uttarakhand records 49.24% voter turnout till 3 pm49.24 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm on Monday in Uttarakhand where voting is underway in 70 assembly seats spread over 13 districts, reported Election Commission officials.
Long queues of voters were seen outside booths as polling began at 8 am amid strict adherence to Covid protocols. People were allowed to cast their votes only after wearing gloves.
The voter turnout in Almora till 3 pm was 43.17 per cent, 46.64 per cent in Bageshwar, 45.56 per cent in Dehradun, 48.11 per cent in Chamoli, 47.63 per cent in Champawat, 52.36 per cent in Nainital, 43.94 per cent in Pauri Garhwal, 45.50 per cent in Pithoragarh, 50.23 per cent in Rudraprayag and 44.74 per cent in Tehri district, said officials.
UP Polls Phase 2: Uttar Pradesh records 51.93% voter turnout till 3 pmUttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 51.93 per cent till 3 pm on Monday in the second phase of the ongoing Assembly elections.
According to the Election Commission of India, Amroha witnessed the highest voter turnout of 60.05 per cent followed by Saharanpur (56.56 per cent) and Moradabad (55.62 per cent) so far.
Bareilly reported a voter turnout of 49.84 per cent till 3 pm, while Sambhal saw 49.11 per cent voter turnout.
Budaun reported 47.69 per cent voter turnout while Rampur registered 52.63 per cent polling. Shahjahanpur recorded 46.78 per cent voter turnout and Bijnor reported 51.81 per cent polling.
Voting for the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections began on Monday at 7 am.
"I have a strong connection with Punjab": PM Modi at rally in PunjabPM Modi today addressed a rally in Punjab, the first since the security lapse in the state, ahead of the third phase of the elections on February 20, when Punjab will go to polls.
"I salute the land of great saints, gurus and freedom fighters," began PM Modi in his address.
"I have an emotional connection with Punjab. It has provided for me when I was an ordinary worker," continued the Prime Minister. "I am here to tell the youth of the state that we are working for your bright future. New India will emerge with the emergence of New Punjab."
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to campaign in Punjab, UPThe Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday will campaign in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP) while former party chief Rahul Gandhi will take part in the electioneering in Patiala, Mansa and Barnala on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi went to Hoshiyarpur, Punjab for the election campaign. While addressing a public meeting, the Congress leader took a jibe at PM Modi, saying he only gives benefits to billionaires in the country.
"For a year, Punjab farmers stood hungry in winters as PM Modi tried to give their hard work to 2-3 billionaires. He couldn't give two minutes of silence in Parliament to farmers who died during the protest. He neither gave compensation to the dependents of the deceased farmers, while Rajasthan and Punjab government paid the compensations," Rahul Gandhi said.
AAP rivals don't want an honest government in Punjab, Channi having nightmares about me: Arvind KejriwalDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that the AAP's rival parties in Punjab are targeting him and its chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann as they do not want the state to have an honest government.
The national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party said the only fault of his party and its leaders is that they talk about improving the condition of schools and hospitals in Punjab, giving jobs to people and ensuring justice in sacrilege cases.
In a swipe at his Punjab counterpart, Mr Kejriwal said Charanjit Singh Channi has been having nightmares about him and is unable to sleep these days.
Blaming corruption for the inflow of drugs into the state, the AAP leader asserted it will stop once his party comes to power.
Manipur polls: BJP wants to root out corruption by bringing change in system, says Defence MinisterAhead of the Manipur Assembly polls, Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh on Monday said the BJP wants to root out corruption by bringing change in the system.
Addressing a public rally in Langthabal, Manipur, the Defence Minister said, "No one has been able to level allegations of corruption against any minister of the BJP government at the Centre. We want to root out corruption by bringing change in the system."
Speaking further, Mr Singh said since the BJP came to power in Manipur, the state has witnessed development. Under the BJP government, road, rail and air connectivity in the region has improved, he added.
UP polls: Average voter turnout of 39% recorded till 1 pmAn average voter turnout of 39.07 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Monday in Uttar Pradesh as polling for the second phase of the state assembly elections picked up pace after a slow start.
The first two hours of polling saw few voters reaching polling booths owing to fog and cold conditions. But as the day progressed, more and more voters stepped out of their homes to exercise their franchise.
Goa records 44.63% voter turnout till 1 pm
Goa reported 44.63 per cent voter turnout till 1 pm for all the 40 assembly constituencies as polling for single-phase State Assembly elections are underway, informed Election Commission of India.
Election Updates: Voter turnout till 1 pm- Goa - 44.63%
- Uttar Pradesh - 39.07%
- Uttarakhand - 35.21%
Punjab polls: Seeking change, doctor jumps into poll frayAmandeep Kaur Dholewal, 37, feels that successive Punjab governments have failed to resolve the basic issues of the people and its time commoners like her took matters into their own hands.
So she quit her job as a medical officer at the Police Hospital in Chandigarh and entered the poll race "to bring about a change".
UP Polls: PM Modi addresses rally in Kanpur Dehat
Woman have picked BJP's flag to win: PM ModiWomen have picked BJP's flag to win. My Muslim sisters are coming out of their houses to vote for BJP. Ghor parivarwadi will lose again in 2022. This time in UP, Holi will be celebrated 10 days before when the election results come: Modi says at a rally in Kanpur Dehat.
Uttarakhand reports 18.97% turnout till 11 am, Haridwar takes lead with 22.42%Uttarakhand reported 18.97 per cent voter turnout till 11 am for the 70 members Assembly elections on Monday, according to the Election Commission of India.
The polling in the hilly state started at 8 am and will end at 6 pm.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister casts vote, exudes confidence of BJP's winUttarakhand Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Khatima, Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday cast his vote along with his wife and mother in the ongoing assembly elections in the state.
Election Updates: Voter turnout till 11 am - Goa - 26.63%
- Uttar Pradesh - 23.03%
- Uttarakhand - 18.97%
BJP Will Form The Government In Goa Again: Chief Minister Pramod SawantGoa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who is contesting State Assembly elections from the Sanquelim constituency on Monday cast his vote Kothambi seat after offering prayers at Shree Rudreshwar Devasthan in Harvalem with his wife.
Mr Sawant expressed confidence that Bharatiya Janata Party will again form the government in Goa with the majority.
Polling process in UP peaceful and fair"The polling process is peaceful and fair everywhere. No report of any untoward incident received," said BD Ram Tiwari, Additional Chief Election Officer.
UP Polls: Amroha records highest voter turnout till 9 am
Amroha witnessed the highest percentage of voter turnout of 10.83 per cent followed by Sambhal (10.76 per cent) and Moradabad (9.86 per cent).
Goa polls: Smaller parties may play key role in govt formation, feel poll observers
Goa has so far witnessed shifting of power largely between the Congress and the BJP, but poll observers feel that after the February 14 Assembly elections, smaller parties and new entrants are likely to play a crucial role in government formation.
Phase 2 Polling updates: Voter turnout till 9 am- Goa - 11.04%
- Uttar Pradesh - 9.45%
- Uttarakhand - 5.15%
Vote for corruption free system in Goa: Priyanka GandhiSoon after polling in Goa began, the Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday urged people to vote and asked the electorate to "choose development".
"To all my Goan friends today; choose development, choose a politics that puts you first, choose the freedom to be you: choose Goa!" tweeted Ms Vadra.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday urged the people of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to vote in record numbers to ensure the prosperous future of their states. The Home Minister appealed to the voters of Uttar Pradesh, in the ongoing second phase of polling, to elect a government that will ensure a safe and secure future of the state.Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday urged the people of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to vote in record numbers to ensure the prosperous future of their states.
The Home Minister appealed to the voters of Uttar Pradesh, in the ongoing second phase of polling, to elect a government that will ensure a safe and secure future of the state.
Voters in Goa provided hand gloves to chceck spread of CovidIn Goa, to check the spread of COVID-19, voters have been provided hand gloves at the polling stations, an election official said. Over 100 'all-women' polling booths have been set up in the state for the convenience of female voters.
Election Updates: Polling begins in UttarakhandPolling to the 70 Assembly seats spread over 13 districts of Uttarakhand began amid tight security on Monday morning.
This is the fifth Assembly poll being held in the hill state since its creation in 2000.
A public holiday has been declared by the administration for the single-day polling in the state.
Punjab polls: Prime Minister Modi to address public rally in Jalandhar today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Jalandhar on Monday ahead of Assembly elections in Punjab.
PM Modi urges people to vote in record numbersPrime Minister Narendra Modi today urged voters to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy.
Uttar Pradesh Phase 2 Voting: 586 candidates in the frayAs many as 586 candidates are in the fray in this phase with the seats spread across Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha, Budaun, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur.
Voting begins in Uttar Pradesh, Goa
Polling begins for 55 seats in Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Voting in Uttarakhand will start at 8 am.