Uma Bharti confident of BJP win in UP

Lucknow/Kunda, Feb 19 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Sunday expressed confidence about her party's victory in the UP assembly elections.

"I can see the BJP winning in all constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. I want to urge people to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise. This is our national duty and I want people to cast their votes in the favour of BJP," Bharti told media here after casting vote.

Meanwhile, applauding Election Commission's efforts in ensuring a peaceful voting, BJP leader Rajnath Singh said that the heavy turnout of voters clearly showed their anger against the corrupt governance of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

"The huge turnout of voters in this elections clearly shows the anger of locals against the currently ruling BSP or the earlier SP government," said Singh.

Polling for the fourth phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh for 56 seats began at 7 a.m. today and will continue till 5 p.m.

Over 1.74 crore voters will be casting their votes in Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Farukkhabad, CSM Nagar, Kannauj, Banda, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh.

Today's polling would decide the fate of several stalwarts and heavyweights including Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Congress party legislative leader Pramod Tiwari, BJP National vice president Kalraj Mishra and BSP Minster Nakul Dubey.

This phase would also test the luck of Louis Khurshid, wife of Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid from Farukkhabad Sadar seat.

The Election commission has made elaborate arrangements for this phase also.

Besides state police force, PAC and central Paramilitary force have deployed in the election areas. Strict vigilance is being kept in all eleven district borders and check posts.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major political parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

A new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)