Lucknow's voter turnout lowest in UP

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's constituency, Lucknow, has recorded the lowest voter turnout among the 62 constituencies where polling has taken place so far in Uttar Pradesh.

Figures released by the election office on Friday said only 35.42 per cent of the voters cast their votes on May 5 in Lucknow.

Earlier, the district administration had put the figure at 43 per cent.

The BJP had expected a huge turnout in the state capital, especially after the prime minister himself made repeated appeals to the electorate to exercise its franchise.

Only 5,80,665 of the 16,39,371 voters in the Lucknow parliamentary constituency exercised their franchise, sources said.

Within the constituency, the lowest turnout was recorded in Lucknow West assembly segment, represented by senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon. Only 32.93 per cent voters exercised their franchise in this Muslim-dominated constituency.