Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary will not go to cast his vote today because of his election rally, informed Jayant Chaudhary's office toon Thursday.
He is a voter of the Mathura region.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Choudhary are scheduled to hold a joint election campaign at Numaish Maidan in the Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in the day, Chaudhary appealed to people to come out in large numbers to cast their votes to elect a government to fulfil their aspirations.
"I request each and every one of you to step out of your houses and utilize your right to vote. Elect a government that cares about you. Please also inspire the people around you to do the same," he said.
He urged people to elect a responsible government that works for the betterment of everyone in society.
Voting for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections began on Thursday at 7:00 am.
Covering the Jat-dominant belt of western Uttar Pradesh, the first phase of polls covers 58 assembly constituencies across 11 districts of the state.
These districts include Shamli, Meerut, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Mathura.
The voting, which will conclude at 6:00 pm today, is taking place at 25,849 polling stations and 10,766 polling centres.
As many as 623 candidates are in the fray on 58 assembly seats where polls are being held today.
As per the set norms, the campaigning for the first phase of the UP polls ended on Tuesday (February 8) at 6 pm, marking the start of a 48-hour-long silence period.
The police have sealed the borders of the state and strict vigilance is underway to maintain peace in 58 constituencies where elections are underway.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all the voters in Uttar Pradesh to participate in the elections while following the necessary COVID-19 guidelines.
"Today is the first phase of voting in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. I request all the voters to participate enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy by following the rules of COVID. Remember - Vote first, then refreshments," read PM Modi's tweet roughly translated from Hindi.
The 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
( With inputs from ANI )
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