UP Election 2022 Phase 5 Updates: Voter turnout rises to 54.34%; PM addresses rally

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 53.98% until 3 pm. Out of all the districts, Chitrakoot recorded the highest voter turnout at 59.64% whereas Pratapgarh saw the lowest turnout at - 50.25%.

The district-wise turnout is:

• Amethi- 52.77%
• Ayodhya- 58.01%
• Bahraich- 55.00%
• Barabanki- 54.65%
• Chitrakoot- 59.64%
• Gonda- 54.31%
• Kaushambi- 57.01%
• Pratapgarh- 50.25%
• Prayagraj- 50.89%
• Rae Bareli- 56.06%
• Shrawasti- 57.24%
• Sultanpur- 54.88%

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 54.34% until 3 pm. Out of all the districts, Chitrakoot recorded the highest voter turnout at 59.64% whereas Prayagraj saw the lowest turnout at 51.82%.

The district-wise turnout is:

Amethi- 53.43%

Ayodhya- 58.01%

Bahraich- 54.60%

Barabanki- 54.65%

Chitrakoot- 59.64%

Gonda- 54.47%

Kaushambi- 57.01%

Pratapgarh- 52.14%

Prayagraj- 51.82%

Rae Bareli- 56.06%

Shrawasti- 57.24%

Sultanpur- 54.88%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Sunday where he responded to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's 'final day' remark. PM Modi stated that even when Opposition parties publicly wished for his death in Kashi, we 'felt very happy'. His remark came in response to Akhilesh Yadav's comment in December 2021, which had received massive backlash. Reacting to PM Modi's visit to Banaras, the former CM had said that 'people usually visit the city in their final days'.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Booth Vijay Sammelan' in Varanasi. In his address, PM Modi said, "The party which has the strength of hardworking workers like you, its victory is sure. Your enthusiasm, confidence is visible in Booth Vijay Sammelan and depicts that we will win every booth. Along with this, we will also score full in the entire region." 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets people gathered for a public rally in his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a public rally in Maharajganj's Pharenda as Uttar Pradesh holds the fifth phase of assembly elections. 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 46.28% until 3 pm. Out of all the districts, Chitrakoot recorded the highest voter turnout at 51.67% whereas Pratapgarh saw the lowest turnout at - 44.26%. 

The district-wise turnout is:

• Amethi- 46.35%
• Ayodhya- 50.60%
• Bahraich- 48.66%
• Barabanki- 45.55%
• Chitrakoot- 51.67%
• Gonda- 46.70%
• Kaushambi- 48.70%
• Pratapgarh- 44.26%
• Prayagraj- 42.29%
• Rae Bareli- 46.86%
• Shrawasti- 49.38%
• Sultanpur- 46.47%

Addressing a poll rally in UP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked, "The entire Purvanchal was in trouble from 'Machar' (mosquitoes) and 'Mafia' (goons) but PM Modi got people rid of mosquitoes under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and Yogiji got them rid of Mafia". He added, "Those(opposition) who have taken back the cases of criminals attacking 'Sankatmochan' temple will do the same to mafias(goons) if they came to power. Only under the BJP mafias will be kept in jails". 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 34.83% until 1 pm. Out of all the constituencies, Kaiserganj recorded the highest voter turnout at 45% whereas Allahabad North saw the lowest turnout at 20.50%. As far as districts are concerned, Chitrakoot recorded the maximum turnout at 39.08%.

The district-wise turnout is:

Amethi- 35.93%

Ayodhya- 38.74%

Bahraich- 37.25%

Barabanki- 36.23%

Chitrakoot- 39.08%

Gonda- 34.36%

Kaushambi- 37.23%

Pratapgarh- 33.59%

Prayagraj- 30.30%

Rae Bareli- 33.64%

Shrawasti- 36.50%

Sultanpur- 34.85%

Speaking to the media after casting his vote in Barabanki, Congress leader PL Punia said, "BJP thinks it has weakened and is losing. So, they brought everyone to campaign-from PM to HM to their national president. They're trying but people won't get lured. They've decided to make BJP lose". 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 21.39% until 11 am. Out of all the constituencies, Mahasi recorded the highest voter turnout at 28.10% whereas Allahabad North saw the lowest turnout at 10.65%. As far as districts are concerned, Chitrakoot recorded the maximum turnout at 25.69%.

The district-wise turnout is:

Amethi- 21.52%

Ayodhya- 24.60%

Bahraich- 22.79%

Barabanki- 18.61%

Chitrakoot- 25.69%

Gonda- 22.34%

Kaushambi- 25.05%

Pratapgarh- 20%

Prayagraj- 18.62%

Rae Bareli- 20.11%

Shrawasti- 23.17%

Sultanpur- 22.48%

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya casts his vote at a polling booth in Prayagraj. He is contesting from Sirathu. He said, "I appeal to the people to vote in as many numbers as possible. We will secure 300+ seats and form government". 

Jansatta Dal Loktantrik's Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias 'Raja Bhaiya', who is contesting from Kunda, cast his vote at a polling booth in Benti. He said, "Breaking your own record is a challenge in itself...will break my record". 

Maharaji Devi SP candidate from Amethi and ex-UP Min Gayatri Prajapati's wife, who's been given a life sentence in a case, cast her vote. She told the media, "We'll win, will focus on development like my husband". Meanwhile, his daughter claimed that Prajapati was convicted as the elections were approaching. 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 8.02% until 9 am. Out of all the constituencies, Sirathu recorded the highest voter turnout at 12.50% whereas Allahabad North saw the lowest turnout at 3.85%. As far as districts are concerned, Kaushambi recorded the maximum turnout at 11.40%.

The district-wise turnout is:

Amethi- 8.67%

Ayodhya- 9.44%

Bahraich- 7.45%

Barabanki- 6.21%

Chitrakoot- 8.80%

Gonda- 8.31%

Kaushambi- 11.40%

Pratapgarh- 7.77%

Prayagraj- 6.95%

Rae Bareli- 7.48%

Shrawasti- 9.67%

Sultanpur- 8.60%

Speaking to the media, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, "In 1996 when BJP-SP formed govt, 21 ministers were mafias, had a criminal background. BJP is responsible for mafiawad in UP, they should be blamed. When I raised the issue in Assembly, Rajnath Singh had replied 'everything is fair in politics'". 

As the 5th phase of the Uttar Pradesh election got underway on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya fired a salvo at SP president Akhilesh Yadav. Appealing to the people to exercise their franchise to ensure the security and development of the state, he contended that Yadav didn't have the courage to contest from Sirathu. While Maurya is the BJP candidate there, the SP chief contested the election from Karhal. Moreover, the UP Deputy CM dismissed the possibility of Apna Dal (K)'s Pallavi Patel giving him a tough fight in this constituency. 

Congress Legislature Party leader and party's candidate from Rampur Khas, Aradhana Misra cast her vote at a polling station in Sangramgarh. She says, "Biggest power in a democracy is your vote. Vote for the country and your own future". 

After casting his vote in Amethi, BJP candidate Sanjay Sinh said, "Amethi has never been anyone's bastion, be it Gandhis or anyone else. It has always belonged to the people...This is war against oppressors". 

Appealing to voters, PM Modi said, "Today is the fifth phase of the celebration of democracy in Uttar Pradesh. I request all the voters to exercise their franchise and cast their valuable vote".

UP Minister Sidharth Nath Singh and his family offered prayers at Sai Baba Mandir in Prayagraj as voting in the fifth phase got underway. He is contesting as BJP candidate from Allahabad West constituency, polling on which is being held today.

Ahead of the 5th phase of polling for the UP election, CM Yogi Adityanath urged people to cast their vote. He opined, "For the upliftment of their state, for achieving good governance, security and respect, for fear-free, riot-free, crime-free environment, all respected voters must use their vote. So take a resolution that first vote then take refreshments". 

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, BJP won a whopping 312 seats in the 403-member House, whereas BSP could win only 19 seats. On the other hand, the SP-Congress alliance failed to bear fruit as it could win in only 54 constituencies. While this was seen as a mandate for PM Modi as BJP had not declared any CM candidate, Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath was a surprise pick for the post. Though Adityanath and other top BJP leaders have hit the campaign trail seeking re-election, SP too is leaving no stones unturned.

Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav has embarked on a statewide tour as a part of his "Samajwadi Vijay Yatra" in a bid to stage a comeback in the state. Buoyed by the overwhelming public support during his election campaign, he has often predicted that SP will win 400 seats in the 2022 Assembly polls. While Yadav has ruled out any alliance with Congress and BSP, he has announced a tie-up with Shivpal Yadav's PSP(L), Mahan Dal, OP Rajbhar's SBSP, RLD and the Apna Dal faction of Krishna Patel.

On the other hand, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading the Congress campaign centred around the slogan 'Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon', signifying women empowerment. Even though BSP has been in power multiple times over the last three decades, its supremo Mayawati commenced her party's election campaign only in January. Moreover, AIMIM is also seeking to emerge as a kingmaker in UP having made public its plan to contest 100 seats.

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that the NDA is likely to emerge as the single largest alliance once again in Uttar Pradesh with 249-269 seats in the 2022 Assembly polls. However, the saffron will suffer a major seat loss as Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and its allies may win 113-133 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party's seat share is likely to reduce further as the Republic P-MARQ Opinion Poll suggests only 9-17 seats for Mayawati's party. On the other hand, Congress may get 3-9 seats.

The heartland of the Ayodhya Ramjanmabhoomi movement goes to the polls today in the fifth phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh. With 692 candidates in poll fray, a tough battle will be witnessed between BJP and SP for the 61 seats in the saffron stronghold in 12 districts - Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda. In the 2017 polls, BJP won 47 of these seats whereas its ally Apna Dal (S) secured victory in 3 seats. On the other hand, SP, Congress and BSP bagged 5, 2 and 3 seats respectively. 

Sirathu

A battle between heavyweights will be witnessed in Sirathu - BJP's Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and Apna Dal (K) Pallavi Patel - Union minister Anupriya Patel's elder sister. Falling under the Kaushambi district, Sirathu is dominated by Dalits, Patels and Pandits - an uphill task for Maurya too woo. The Deputy CM has won Sirathu in 2012 and was later nominated to the UP council. Maurya - the ex-UP BJP chief successfully led the party to a victory in 2017 before being piqued by Yogi Adityanath. Akhilesh Yadav's wife - Dimple Yadav and Jaya Bachchan rallied for Patel in Sirathu.

Amethi

Amethi - a Gandhi bastion will see the battle between two turncoats - Congress-turned-BJP leader Sanjay Sinh, BJP-turned-Congress leader Ashish Shukla, while SP has fielded its jailed leader Gayatri Prajapati's wife- Maharaji Prajapati. Sinh - the erstwhile ‘Raja of Amethi’ is fighting Assembly polls for the first time after two tems in Parliament with Congress, before joining BJP in 2019. Sinh's first wife Garima Singh - the sitting MLA and his second wife Amita Singh were snubbed as the BJP chose Sanjay Sinh as its candidate against Ashish Shukla - who was previously in BSP and later BJP before choosing Congress.

Rampur Khas

Congress' legislative party leader Aradhana Mishra faces BJP's Nagesh Pratap Singh again for the Rampur Khas seat. Falling under the Pratapgarh seat, Mishra had won the seat in a by-election in 2014 and later defeated Singh in 2017 by a margin of 17,066 votes. A Congress bastion - Pratapgarh has been held by Congress for 42 years, however the BJP has been narrowing the margin since 2017.

Raghuraj Pratap Singh a.k.a Raja Bhaiya - Jansatta Dal Loktantrik chief - a six-time MLA is facing an SP opposition for the first time in two decades. Raja Bhaiya - a prominent figure from the Thakur community - faces SP's Gulshan Yadav who is his own former aide. Singh, who was a minister in both SP governments, fell out with Akhilesh Yadav in 2018 after he allegedly voted in favour of the BJP Rajya Sabha candidate in 2018. SP has reportedly been wooing the Yadavs by pitting them against the Thakurs as a poll pitch. In 2017, Raja Bhaiya won with more than 1.35 lakh votes.

Allahabad South

Sitting BJP minister Nand Gopal Gupta faces Congress' Alpana Nishad, SP's Raees Chandra Shukla, BSP's Devendra Mishra Nagraha and AAP's Altaf Ahmad for the saffron stronghold Allahabad South, falling under Prayagraj district. In 2017, Nand Gopal Gupta had defeated SP's Parvez Ahmad with a margin of 28587 votes. Similarly, in 2019, BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi won from Allahabad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 184275 votes by defeating SP's Rajendra Singh Patel.

Kunda: Raghuraj Pratap Singh (Raja Bhaiya) Vs Gulshan Yadav

Raghuraj Pratap Singh a.k.a Raja Bhaiya - Jansatta Dal Loktantrik chief - a six-time MLA is facing an SP opposition for the first time in two decades. Raja Bhaiya - a prominent figure from the Thakur community - faces SP's Gulshan Yadav who is his own former aide. Singh, who was a minister in both SP governments, fell out with Akhilesh Yadav in 2018 after he allegedly voted in favour of the BJP Rajya Sabha candidate in 2018. SP has reportedly been wooing the Yadavs by pitting them against the Thakurs as a poll pitch. In 2017, Raja Bhaiya won with more than 1.35 lakh votes.

Pratapgarh: Apna Dal (K) chief Krishna Patel Vs Rajendra Kumar

With Apna Dal (K) chief Krishna Patel in the poll fray, her daughter Anupriya Patel pulled out Apna Dal candidate at the last minute, resulting in BJP fielding Rajendra Kumar. The NDA camp was caught by surpise when Krishna Patel was fielded from the SP camp and its national general secretary Rajendra Prasad had already filed his nomination papers. In 2019 bypolls, Rajkumar Pal of Apna Dal (S) won the seat by defeating SP's Brijesh Verma while BJP's Sangam Lal Gupta won the Lok Sabha polls that year.

Sirathu: Keshav Prasad Maurya Vs Pallavi Patel

A battle between heavyweights will be witnessed in Sirathu - BJP's Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and Apna Dal (K) Pallavi Patel - Union minister Anupriya Patel's elder sister. Falling under the Kaushambi district, Sirathu is dominated by Dalits, Patels and Pandits - an uphill task for Maurya too woo. The Deputy CM has won Sirathu in 2012 and was later nominated to the UP council. Maurya - the ex-UP BJP chief successfully led the party to a victory in 2017 before being piqued by Yogi Adityanath. Akhilesh Yadav's wife - Dimple Yadav and Jaya Bachchan rallied for Patel in Sirathu.

Allahabad South: Nand Gopal Gupta Vs Alpana Nishad

Sitting BJP minister Nand Gopal Gupta faces Congress' Alpana Nishad, SP's Raees Chandra Shukla, BSP's Devendra Mishra Nagraha and AAP's Altaf Ahmad for the saffron stronghold Allahabad South, falling under Prayagraj district. In 2017, Nand Gopal Gupta had defeated SP's Parvez Ahmad with a margin of 28587 votes. Similarly, in 2019, BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi won from Allahabad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 184275 votes by defeating SP's Rajendra Singh Patel.

Ayodhya: Tej Narayan Pandey Vs Ved Prakash Gupta

Falling under the Ayodhya district, the Assembly seat falls in the heart of the Mandir movement and is a saffron stronghold. BJP has once again fielded sitting MLA Ved Prakash Gupta against SP's Tej Narayan Pandey. In 2017, Gupta defeated Pandey - a prominent Brahmin face  (the dominant community in Ayodhya) -  by a margin of 50,440 votes.