Lucknow, May 20 (UNI) Approximately 47.55 percent of 2.7 crore voters have exercised their franchise in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies till 1500 hours in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
The fifth phase of the election will seal the fate of several stalwarts including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Smriti Irani and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), a maximum of 55.35 percent votes were polled in Barabanki, whereas Lucknow where Rajnath Singh is in the fray to take forward Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) legacy for the third consecutive time recorded a minimum turnout of 41.9 percent votes till 3 pm.
In Rae Bareli, where former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is trying his luck for the first time 47.83 percent votes were polled. In Amethi, where Union Minister Smriti Irani is facing challenge from the old confidant of Gandhi family Kishori Lal Sharma, 45.13 percent votes were polled till 3 pm.
Among other constituencies, 51.08 votes were polled in Mohanlalganj, 46.22 percent in Jalaun, 52.53 percent in Jhansi, 48.87 percent in Hamirpur, 47.25 percent in Fatehpur, 43.01 percent in Kaushambi, 48.08 percent in Banda, 48.66 percent in Faizabad and 46.01 percent in Kaisarganj.
Meanwhile, prominent leaders including Union Minister Smriti Irani, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak cast their votes at different places.
Irani cast her vote at the polling booth in Gauriganj, Amethi and appealed to the people to vote. Rajya Sabha MP Dr Dinesh Sharma, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Sanjay Seth, Brij Lal, MP Kaushal Kishore, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak reached their polling booths in Lucknow and cast their votes.
Rajnath Singh exercised his franchise at polling centre in Vipul Khand Gomti Nagar.
BSP President Mayawati cast her vote at the polling booth located at Children Academy School near VVIP Guest House at 7 am and appealed to the people to vote in large numbers for a healthy democracy. BSP National General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra cast his vote at the polling booth located at Lucknow Montessori Inter College.
Minister in Yogi government Swatantradev Singh cast his vote in Orai. BJP candidates from Rae Bareli Dinesh Pratap Singh, from Jhansi Anurag Sharma, from Hamirpur Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and others also cast their votes.
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