The state capital is abuzz with a new political spin. February 23, is the closing night for the results of intense election campaigning that concluded yesterday. With the sounding of the war bugle, the fourth phase of polling in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh will begin on February 23, 2022. The state is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with at least four parties (BJP, Samajwadi, BSP and Congress) as its principal contenders. Over 2,12,90,564 voters are set to partake in this fourth phase of UP elections.

The fight to the finishing line

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Polling for the fourth phase of UP Assembly elections is set to be held in 59 constituencies, spread across nine districts, on Wednesday. The battle has now shifted to Awadh and the central Uttar Pradesh region, along with one district of the Bundelkhand region and two districts of the Terai region. This phase includes 16 reserved constituencies of Pilibhit, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Sitapur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Fatehpur and Banda districts.

The fourth phase of polling will also witness the fight between the parties in the state capital Lucknow, which has nine assembly seats. From becoming a focal point of the farmers' movement to home to UP's best National Park and Wildlife sanctuary, Lakhimpur Kheri is also set to vote in this phase.

Women to outnumber male voters in 2022 LA elections

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UP Elections are one of the most crucial elections in India and is touted to be the bellwether for the coming elections. This year, EC has also made various arrangements to facilitate voters and ensure a large voting turnout. Along with the postal ballot’s provision for senior citizens, handicapped persons and COVID-19 positive patients. EC has also decided to provide a commute to and fro from the polling booth for senior citizens. To ensure a large women turnout, provisions for 46 pink booths to be manned entirely by women has also been arranged by the EC, along with seven booths for specially-abled persons.

According to the latest EC data, out of the state’s 150 million voters, nearly 69.8 million are women. Though women have historically played a much smaller role than men in elections, their participation has increased over the years. In the 2017 assembly polls, women’s turnout was at 63%, higher than men at 59 per cent.

Of the 59 seats, the BJP had won 51 in the 2017 Assembly elections, three had gone to Bahujan Samaj Party and four to the Samajwadi Party. The BJP's ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) had also bagged one seat. The fate of all the 624 candidates contesting in the fourth phase of the UP elections will be locked in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) tomorrow. Voting for the remaining three phases of the seven-phase UP elections will take place on February 27, March 3, and 7 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.