"Your 'invaluable votes' will lay groundwork for Viksit Bharat": UP CM appeals to voters to cast franchise in fifth phase of LS polls

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 20 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged voters to cast their 'invaluable votes' in the fifth round of the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the votes will lay the groundwork for a 'Strong-Safe India' and fulfil the promise of a Viksit Bharat.

Taking to his social media handle on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi posted on X, "Respected fellow voters, tomorrow is the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. I appeal to all of you to please vote. Your invaluable vote will become the foundation of 'Strong-Safe India' and will help fulfil the resolve of 'Viksit Bharat'."

"Remember: First vote, then refreshment!" read the post of the Chief Minister.

Earlier, PM Modi also urged voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise in the fifth phase of polling.

"In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, voting will be held today for 49 seats in 8 states and union territories. I request all the voters of this phase to cast their votes and create a new record of voting. I especially appeal to women and young voters to participate enthusiastically in this festival of democracy," the Prime Minister posted on X.

Voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which covers 49 seats across six states and two union territories (UTs), is set to decide the electoral fate of leaders from some of the high-profile constituencies, including Raebareli, Amethi, and Lucknow.

Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The fifth phase will witness key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will be seeking electoral success.

The Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh are being conducted in seven phases. The first four phases have already concluded.

The fifth phase will take place in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh on May 20. These include Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Raebareli, Amethi, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Kaiserganj, and Gonda.

Additionally, a by-election will be held in the Lucknow East Assembly constituency. The remaining Lok Sabha seats will go to the polls on May 25 and June 1.

The votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)