'Party having clear mandate will form Govt. in UP': BJP

Moradabad/Bareilly/Rampur, Mar 3 (ANI): Asserting that the party having a clear mandate will form the government in Lucknow, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said the dreams of those parties who want to form a government by hook or crook will be shattered, and added that they would be rooted out not only from Uttar Pradesh, but also from the whole country.

"The government in Uttar Pradesh will be formed by a party having a clear mandate. The dreams of those parties who want to form a government by hook or crook will be shattered," said Naqvi, who cast his vote today in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city.

"And not only in Uttar Pradesh, but also from the rest of India, existing inflation mafia, scandal makers and the James Bonds of spying, will definitely be rooted out after the results of the elections are declare. They would be rooted out not only from Uttar Pradesh, but also from the whole country," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Praveen Singh Aron, who cast his vote in Bareilly city, said the voters are not keeping in mind the issue of graft and development as they cast their ballot.

"I do not think that people are casting their vote keeping in mind issues like development and corruption. They do want to vote, keeping in mind these issues. However, they would not do so in these elections. I feel that this time also unfortunately votes are being cast on the basis of castes, sub-castes and religion. This is the truth which I can see," Aron said.

Polling progressed smoothly in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur city, where people came out to vote in large numbers hoping that their elected representatives would address their woes.

"We only water and electricity. We want jobs, as we are unemployed. We should be provided those facilities for which we are entitled as we fall under the below the poverty line category. We are not getting any of those facilities," said Shadab Khan, a voter.

Over 25 percent voting had been recorded till noon in the polling for the seventh and penultimate phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls covering 60 seats spread over 10 districts, which began this morning.

Voting, which began on a slow note today, will continue till 5 p.m.

A total of 18,927 polling stations have been set up and the Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for this phase.

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

The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth phases of polling occurred on February 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28 respectively. A new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March.

The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)