Uttarakhand election 2017: 68% voting in Uttarakhand

Voters cast their vote in Uttarakhand/ Ramdev votes from Haridwar, stirs row

Uttarakhand: Around 68 per cent polling was witnessed in the Uttarakhand assembly elections on Wednesday, bettering the voting percentage of the past two state polls, officials said. Here are latest updates about Uttarakhand election:

• 68% voting in Uttarakhand till 5 pm
• 54.27 percent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in second phase of polling.
• 40% voting till 1 pm.
• 628 candidates contesting.

Baba Ramdev: 'I'm not supporting any party in these polls' Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday made a shocking statement while to spoke to media after casting his vote in Haridwar.  Ramdev in a conversation with ABP News said, "I'm not supporting any party in these polls". He added saying "The polls would be an end of a lot of biggies". Talking about the polls overall, he said "In these polls, the results from UP to Goa would be topsy-turvy and shocking for everyone". Polling in Karnaprayag seat has been put off to March 9 following the death of BSP candidate Kuldeep Singh Kanwasi in a road accident on Sunday. Congress and BJP are locked in a straight contest in most of the seats but the presence of about a dozen rebel candidates in the fray as independents and the saffron party fielding former Congressmen may upset the calculations. Rahul held two public meetings in Rishikesh and Someshwar besides a 75-km roadshow in Haridwar district which has the maximum number of 11 constituencies in Uttarakhand. Senior citizen stand in queue to cast vote in Uttarakhand/ Image courtesy: ANI Chief Minister Harish Rawat has gone all out to woo voters by holding several public meetings and roadshows on daily basis in perhaps the most crucial election of his career. A total of 30,000 security personnel including 105 companies of central armed police force, 25 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, Uttarakhand police and the homeguards have been deployed.  For the first time voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines are being used in these elections in Uttarakhand. The BJP has been attacking the ruling parties in both the states over corruption. Modi raised the issue of demonetisation and surgical strikes repeatedly at his rallies. Congress and Samajwadi Party have in turn accused Modi of failing to deliver on his promises and causing suffering to the common man with note ban.