UP polls: All set for 2nd phase

New Delhi: Elections to 58 constituencies spread over 10 districts in western Uttar Pradesh will be held on Friday.

Over 1.60 crore voters, including 75 lakh women, are likely to exercise their franchise to seal the fate of 881 candidates.

To ensure free and fair polls during the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, a large number of paramilitary forces — including central para-troopers — have been deployed.

Some of the key candidates whose fate will be decided include Minorities Welfare minister Haji Yakub Qureshi and son and daughter-in-law — Rajbir Singh and Prem Lata Verma — of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh. Rajbir is contesting from Debai and Prem Lata from Atrauli.

In the first pahse of polling on April 7, the voter turnout in was 46.29 per cent in the 62 Assembly constituencies. Of the 62 seats, 14 seats were in Central Uttar Pradesh, 33 seats in Western UP and 15 in Bundelkhand.

(With PTI inputs)