Three of the major Indian states went to the polling stations today, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa, in the 2nd phase of the 2022 state elections.
In India’s largest and most populous state, Uttar Pradesh the second phase of Assembly elections concluded successfully. Polling is being held in accordance with the Covid guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. Two of seven Election phases in Uttar Pradesh have passed without incident, in itself this is a testament to Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath’s strong law and order credentials. After the first phase on 10 February, it is thought Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is in the lead for the 55 seats going to the ballot box today.
Uttar Pradesh witnessed 60.44% voting in the second phase of Assembly elections, where 20 million electors will choose from 586 Candidates contesting for 55 seats. Elections 2022 are being held in seven phases - February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7. UP is probably the most intensely contested state election as it supports the largest number of Lok Sabha (House of Commons) 80 seats, that come into play in a general election.
Goa has 1.1 million electors and recorded a 75.29% voter turnout for 301 candidates contesting 40 seats. And the BJP is expected to get 22+ seats and Dr Pramod Sawant is expected to remain Chief Minister. Goans seem to have once again opted for the politics of development over division. Final results will be available on 10th March.
In Uttarakhand just under 60% of 8million electors, a record number of those eligible to vote have turned out to vote for 632 candidates contesting 70 seats. Uttarakhand shares a 350mile border with China making it an important state for national security, the border is patrolled by the formidable Indo-Tibetan border police force. At the end of the single-phase polling officials publicly sealed Electronic Voting Machines to allay any disinformation and misconceptions about tampering; especially now that the ‘Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail’ mechanism has been introduced, the People’s vote is more secure than ever.
All elections in India are a monumental democratic exercise, and still to come are Punjab on 20 February and Manipur on 28 February; the Prime Minster, Narendra Modi has held public rallies drawing huge crowds, all around the states contesting elections; including today’s rally in Jalandhar, Punjab supported by 40,000 people. Jalandhar is the birth town of GBC’s Founding Chairman Aman Bhogal.
The festival of Indian democracy helps set the gold standard for free democracies.
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