NEW DELHI: Sixty-one per cent of the nearly 2 crore voters today turned to cast their votes in phase four of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The Election Commission said the turnout percentage is likely to touch 63 per cent as, till 5 PM, several people were still in queues waiting for their turn to vote.
53 constituencies in 12 districts went for elections in phase four.
The poll percentage was 59.9 per cent in the corresponding seats in the 2012 assembly elections and 57.1 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Dev, in charge of Uttar Pradesh, told reporters here.
With poll machinery in the state keeping up the pressure on anti-social elements, Rs 13.49 crore in cash and 3.26 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 8.17 crore was seized in run up to this phase.
So far, a total of Rs 201 crore has been seized in cash and kind including liquor, drugs and precious metals -- all used to influence voters.
So far, Rs 112.5 crore in cash, 19.78 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 56.05 crore, Rs 7.41 crore worth of drugs, and Rs 25.15 crore worth of precious metals including gold and silver have been seized by election authorities from across Uttar Pradesh.
He said a "pre-poll" incident of violence was reported last night from Mahoba where SP and BSP workers had clashed, leaving two injured.
While two of the accused have been arrested, the two undergoing treatment in hospital will also be placed under arrest. The SHO and chowki in charge of the police station concerned have been suspended.