Nearly 60% voting was recorded till 4 pm in the second phase polling in 67 Assembly constituencies across 11 districts of western Uttar Pradesh.

Polling is going on peacefully in Bijnor, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and districts, and end at 5 pm.

In the second of the seven-phase polling, 2.28 crore voters, including over 1.04 crore women, are eligible to cast their ballots at 14,771 polling centres and 23,693 polling stations.

"Polling is going on peacefully amid tight security," UP Chief Electoral Officer T Venkatesh said.

Voter turnout, in the first phase on February 11 (rpt February 11), was recorded at 64.2 per cent – an increase of nearly three per cent from the first phase turnout in 2012.

At Bareilly, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's 115-year-old grandfather Z H Kazmi cast his ballot assisted by his young family members.

At certain places long queues were seen outside polling stations. First time voters were found to be enthusiastic, taking selfies, proudly showing indelible ink imprint on their finger.

Muslim women in burqas were seen outside several booths, while the picture of a newly married couple going to cast vote in Bareilly went viral on social media.

Of the 67 seats at stake, ruling Samajwadi Party had won 34 in 2012, followed by BSP 18, BJP 10, Congress three and others two.

In this phase, 720 candidates are in the fray with a maximum of 22 from Barhapur (Bijnor) and a minimum of four from Dhanaura (Amroha).

Prominent contestants include controversial SP minister Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam, who are contesting from Rampur and Swar seats respectively. In these constituencies 55 per cent voting was recorded till 4 PM.

Saif Ali Naqvi, son of former Congress MP Zafar Ali Naqvi, former central minister Jitin Prasada from Tilhar (Shahjahanpur), BJP Legislature Party leader Suresh Kumar Khanna from Shahjahanpur city and state minister Mehboob Ali from Amroha.Peaceful polling has been reported in 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh with the poll percentage from as low as 35 per cent to as high as 47 per cent by noon time on Wednesday. The fate of many high profile candidates, including UP cabinet minister Azam Khan is at stake in this second phase of polling in the state.
 
Polling in the second phase of the assembly election was scheduled on 67 seats of  the 11 districts of UP which include western UP, Tarai  and Ruhelkhand areas. The fate of 721 candidates, including 82 women would be locked today in the EVMs .
 
As scheduled polling started at 7 am in the morning, some areas showed an encouraging response of voters while it was a slow start in some others. By 1 pm both Saharanpur and Sambhal recorded a maximum 47 perdent voting while at least 35 per cent was reported in Badaun.

The poll percentage in Moradabad was 40.80 per cent, Amroha 44.75 per cent, Barielly 39 per cent, Rampur 39 per cent, Shahjahanpur 39 per cent, Bijnor 45 per cent,  Pillibheet 41 per cent and Lakheempur Khiri 44.75 per cent.
 
The fate of many star candidates would be at stake in this second phase of election in UP.  From Rampur, SP stalwart Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam are making a political debut from neighbouring Swar constituency in this election.  On Shahjahanpur`s Tilhar constituency, Jatin Prasad of congress  and former SP ministers Anees Ahmed Khan from Beesalpur, Kamal Akhta from Hasanpur seat of Amroha  are trying their fate.

Chief Electoral Officer T Venkatesh said that 2,983 of the total 23,695 polling booths were identified as sensitive and security was scaled up there. Long queues of women, differently-abled and elderly voters were seen in most parts outside the poll booths. 

In the 2012 assembly polls, the average polling in these constituencies was 64 per cent.