It could be mentioned that polling for the seventh phase will be held in seven districts, namely, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Sonbhadra and Jaunpur and apart from Varanasi, the focus would also be at three Naxal-affected districts of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli. Huge police force has also been deployed to these areas for peaceful polling.
A number of 14,458 polling booths have been set up for the voting.
The eastern UP fight:
- The saffron party, which is locked in a tight electoral battle with the SP-Congress alliance and the Mayawati-led BSP, hopes that a good performance in the eastern parts of the state will take it past the majority mark in the 403-member state Assembly.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his alliance partner Congress VP Rahul Gandhi have also been campaigning extensively in the parliamentary constituency of the PM. The two leaders almost crossed path with the PM while holding road shows to garner maximum votes to their favour.
- The Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has also toured various eastern constituencies of the state to attract the Muslim electorate to her favour.
Results of the polling would be announced on March 11.