UP Civic Polls: About 54 per cent voting recorded in first phase

Lucknow: Around 54 per cent voting was recorded till 5 pm on Wednesday in the urban body elections in Uttar Pradesh. This is the first civic polls in the state after BJP swept the Assembly polls earlier this year.

It is worth mentioning that the local body elections are scheduled to take place in three phases across the state. The first phase polling for five municipal corporations, 71 municipal councils and 154 nagar panchayats spread across 24 districts began at 7 am today.

After the completion of first phase of voting, the state Elections Commissioner SK Agarwal said, "We are glad to say that no violence was recorded at any place of polling. The credit for the same should be given to media, police, politicians and the people."

Also Read: UP civic polls: CM Yogi Adityanath casts vote in Gorakhpur

What else he said:

• Ballot paper theft issue has been reported in Badaun.
• Re-polling will be held there.
• Model code of conduct has been breached in Shamli and an FIR has been lodged into the matter.
• Apart from these minor issues, the polling was majorly peaceful.
• We hope that the polling percentage will increase in the coming phases.