UP Polls: Samajwadi cycle will lead in third phase as well, asserts Akhilesh

Saifai (Uttar Pradesh), [India], Feb 19 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said his party in alliance with the Congress party will again form government in the politically crucial state. While speaking with media after casting his vote here, Yadav said akin the first and the second phase the Samajwadi party will maintain its lead in the third phase as well. "We were ahead in the first and the second phase and I am confident that we will lead in the third phase as well. Once again the Samajwadi Party, in alliance with the Congress, will be forming the government," said Akhilesh. 12 percent voter turnout was recorded on Sunday till 9 a.m. in third phase of Uttar Pradesh polls. With Kanpur recording a voting of 7.71 percent, Kannauj saw 11.65 percent voting and Sitapur 11 percent. With over 826 candidates from 105 political parties contesting for 69 seats, polling began on Sunday morning for the crucial third phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections. The polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue till 5 in the evening. Polling parties have been sent to polling centers amid tight security. The districts going for polling in this phase are Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Etawah, Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Auraiya, Lucknow, Unnao, Sitapur and Barabanki. There are 2 crore and 41 lakh voters, including over 1 crore 10 lakh women and 1028 third gender who will decide the political fate of 826 candidates including 105 women in the fray. Sixteen thousand 681 polling centers and 25 thousand 607 polling stations have been erected for polling. (ANI)