BJP leader Tripathi confident of forming Govt. in UP

Allahabad/Amethi/Varanasi, Feb 15 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kesari Nath Tripathi, who cast his vote during the ongoing third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on Wednesday, said that his party was contesting the polls with a firm resolve to form the government in the state.

"See it is all individual estimates about the assembly being hung. But as far as Congress is concerned, it has already conceded defeat in the polls as Rahul (Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi) has already said that he is not fighting the elections to form a government," Tripathi told the media in Allahabad.

" We the Bharatiya Janata Party are contesting the polls to form a government. We shall form our future strategies as per the results," he added.

Voters came out in large numbers to cast their votes to elect a new government.

The District Magistrate of Amethi, J. P. Gupta, said the voting percentages in the area were expected to increase manifolds by the end of the day.

"Look at the crowd and you make estimates yourself. So far, about eighteen percent polling has taken place at this booth. Going by the response of the people here, at least seventy percent polling will take place by the evening," Gupta told the media in Amethi.

"Voters can go upto a range of 100 meters from the polling booth with their vehicles. They are restricted from bringing them any closer. But if they want to use their two wheelers, they can go upto the polling booth," he added.

Large numbers of people were also seen casting their votes in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi city today to avoid the rushes that would occur later in the day.Voting is taking place in a very peaceful atmosphere. We hope to have a good voting percentage today. It is good that people, who normally don't come to vote, are also coming ahead to caste their votes. This time the youth will cast the largest number of votes," said Anand Vijay, a local youth leader.

Polling for the third phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh for 56 seats began at 7 a.m. today and will continue till 5 p.m.

Over 1.75 crore voters will be casting their votes in CSM Nagar, Sultanpur, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.

Today"s polling would decide the fate of cabinet ministers Indrajit Saroj - Manjhanpur, Nand Gopal Gupta alias Nandi - Allahabad South and Dharmaraj Nishad - Shahganj and minister of state Vinod Singh - Lambhua, besides 29 MLAs and 14 former ministers.

Other prominent candidates include, six time MLA from Varanasi south Shyam Dev Rai Chaudhary - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), five time MLA from Malhani and two time MP Parasnath Yadav - Samajwadi Party (SP) and former bureaucrat Rajendra Pandey from Manjhwa seat in Mirzapur district

Stringent security arrangements are in place to ensure event free voting.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

A new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)