Union Minister Anurag Thakur  |  Photo Credit: ANI
Varanasi, UP: As the voting concludes for the first phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) claiming that it has given tickets to big criminals.
“From Nahid Hasan, Azam Khan to Mukhtar Ansari, Samajwadi Party has either given a ticket or extended support to big criminals. If they couldn’t do it themselves, they got their alliance to do it,” he said while addressing the media in Varanasi.
The Union Minister expressed confidence in a massive victory of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly elections.
“The voting in Kairana today assures BJP’s victory. In the next phases covering Kairana to Kashi, west to east, this wave will get stronger. Under the leadership of Modi Ji and Yogi Ji, BJP will win more than 300 seats and return to power,” Thakur said.
UP first phase polling concluded
The first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections concluded today with a voter turnout till 5 pm of 57.79 per cent.
The assembly election in Uttar Pradesh is being held in seven phases starting today, while the last phase of polling will be conducted on March 7. The results will be declared on March 10, as per the Election Commission of India.
The second phase of polling for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled for February 14. 586 candidates are in the fray for 55 Assembly Constituencies in the second phase, including nine reserved for the Scheduled Castes. The reserved seats include that of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha (JP Nagar), Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur, Sambhal (Bhim Nagar), Budaun and Shahjahanpur district.