UP Elections 2017 live: Voting for the final phase of assembly elections in the state is underway
Uttar Pradesh is voting in the seventh and last phase of its assembly elections today. A total of 1.41 crore voters, including 64.76 lakh women are likely to exercise their right in the 40 seats that go to polls today. The final leg of the elections saw extensive campaigning from national leaders of leading parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi camped in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi where he held roadshows and election rallies. The Prime Minister urged everyone to come out and vote. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who has joined hands with ruling Samajwadi Party, conducted rallies with Samajwadi Party chief and Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav in the city. BSP chief Mayawati had also launched a high-octane campaign in this key constituency. Among key candidates contesting today, are five-time Congress MLA Ajai Rai, who is contesting from Pindra. BSP candidate Sibakatullah Ansari, sitting MLA and elder brother of Mukhtar Ansari is another prominent leader contesting in the seventh phase. He is contesting from Mohammadabad. Congress sitting MLA and Former National President NSUI Nadeem Javed will be contesting from Jaunpur.
Here are the highlights for the seventh phase of Uttar Pradesh's assembly elections:
51.7 per cent voter turnout registered in Uttar Pradesh till 3 pm.
Mirzapur sees large number of women votersWomen turned up in large numbers at a polling station in Mirzapur during the seventh and final phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh today
Technical snags in 2 districts Technical snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported in some polling stations in Mirzapur and Bhadohi
38 per cent people turnout to vote in Uttar Pradesh till 1 pm.
Mirzapur farmers boycott voting
In 2012, Samajwadi party had won more than half of the seats polling today
In the 2012 state Assembly polls, out of these 40 seats, 23 went to the Samajwadi Party, five to the Bahujan Samaj Party, four to the Bharatiya Janata Party, three to the Congress and five to others.
Banaras sadhus queue up to vote in final phase of elections 
Photo by Agence France-Presse
Till 11 am, 22.8 per cent (provisional) people cast their vote in UP's seventh and final phase of assembly elections
Large number of women turn up to vote in Varanasi A large number of women and senior citizens queued up outside the polling stations to cast their votes. Aware that it was International Women's Day on the day of polling, most women told the waiting media outside the polling booths that they were voting to ensure safety and security for women and girls.
Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel casts her vote in Mirzapur
10.5 per cent voters turnout in Uttar Pradesh till 9 am.
Other parties not too far behind
Other parties too converged upon Varanasi. About 30 chartered flights brought in over 115 leaders in 10 days to campaign in and around the ancient temple town.
Eastern UP votes today, BJP has prepped hard for Varanasi
The 40 seats that vote today are in eastern UP, a region that the BJP has gone flat out to win after reports of a slow beginning in the first few rounds of polling. For over a week BJP chief Amit Shah and almost two dozen union ministers camped in Varanasi to campaign
UP Votes: First Shots Come in from PM Modi's Varanasi
Voting begins in Uttar Pradesh for final phase of polls.
Among key candidates contesting today, are five-time Congress MLA Ajai Rai, who is contesting from Pindra. BSP candidate Sibakatullah Ansari, sitting MLA and elder brother of Mukhtar Ansari is another prominent leader contesting in the seventh phase. He is contesting from Mohammadabad. Congress sitting MLA and Former National President NSUI Nadeem Javed will be contesting from Jaunpur.
Ghazipur, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Bhadoi and Sonebhadra districts will be polling today. Varanasi has five assembly seats.
A total of 1.41 crore voters, including 64.76 lakh women will vote for the 40 constituencies in this phase in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
Uttar Pradesh will vote in the final phase of the elections today.