PM Modi urges voters to exercise their franchise

Uttar pradesh/ Uttarakhand polls: PM Modi urges people to cast votes/ Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi/ AP-File Photo

New Delhi: With polling underway in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed the voters in the two states to exercise their franchise and participate in the "festival of democracy". "Today (Wednesday) is the polling day in Uttarakhand. I appeal all the voters to cast their vote and participate in the festival of democracy," Modi tweeted.

उत्तराखंड में आज मतदान का दिन है। सभी मतदाताओं से अनुरोध है कि वे अपने मत का प्रयोग करें और लोकतंत्र के इस उत्सव के साझेदार बनें।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2017

Making a similar appeal to the voters in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said: "Today (Wednesday) is the second phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. I request all the voters to participate in the festival of democracy in huge numbers and exercise their franchise."  

उत्तर प्रदेश में आज दूसरे चरण का मतदान है। मेरी विनती है कि सभी मतदाता लोकतंत्र के इस पावन उत्सव में भाग लें और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2017

Voting for 69 seats of the Uttarakhand assembly began at 8 a.m. on Wednesday amid tight security. This is the fourth assembly poll in the hill state where 75,13,547 voters will decide the fate of 628 candidates. Polling for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, spanning 67 constituencies in 11 districts, began on Wednesday morning amid tight security. The fate of 721 candidates is to be sealed by balloting of 2.28 crore voters.