46 per cent turnout recorded in fifth phase

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) The fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly elections today, spread over 57 Legislative Assembly Constituencies witnessed a voter turnout of around 46 per cent when the reports last came, the EC said.

Briefing newsmen here today at the conclusion of the fifth phase Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said though 58 Assembly constituencies, were initially placed under this phase but in one assembly constituency the election was countermanded following the death of a candidate.

He said a total of 848 candidates, including 55 women, were in the fray today.

In this phase, a total of 1.58 crore electors were involved, he added.

A total of 15,492 Polling Stations were set up to manage this phase where 18100 EVMs were been deployed for the voters.

''Even in today's poll, the EC has identified a total of eight lakh electors as absentee voters and hardly one per cent of them has cast their votes,'' the DFC added.

Responding to question on the judgement of the controversial BJP's CD issue, Mr Balakrishnan said the verdict is still on hold.

When asked whether the judgement would be announced before the completion of the seventh and last phase of polls he declined to comment.

UNI