UP civic polls: Around 49% turnout in second phase

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Lucknow: The second phase of the ongoing local polls in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday witnessed an average turnout of 48.65 per cent, even lower than the 52.77 per cent recorded in the opening phase on November 22, a state election commission official said here.

The second phase of the local body elections included polling for the mayors of Lucknow, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Ghaziabad, Allahabad and Aligarh.

According to election officials, the turnout was much lower in urban areas with Allahabad (34.2 per cent) and Lucknow (37.57 per cent) at the very bottom. State Election Commissioner S.K. Agarwal expressed concern at the low polling figures, saying he had anticipated a higher turnout.

Ambedkarnagar recorded 65.8 per cent, Aligarh 51.41, Etawah 53.85, Ghaziabad 46.9, Gautambudh Nagar 61.65, Deoria 57.29, Pillibhit 63.8, Farrukhabad 58.53, Ballia 60.05, Bahraich 54.8, Banda 63.64, Bhadohi 64.23, Muzaffarnagar 63.17, Mathura 46.88, Mainpuri 58.68, Rampur 54.87, Lalitpur 64.97, Varanasi 44.39, Shravasti 64.05, Shahjahanpur 59.03, Sant Kabir Nagar 67.59 and Sultanpur 58.76 per cent polling.