Panaji & Lucknow: Goa recorded 75.29 per cent voter turnout and hill state Uttarakhand 59.37 per cent till 5 pm on Monday, showed Election Commission data. Uttar Pradesh witnessed 60.44 per cent voting in the second phase of Assembly elections. 

The second phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh, which largely consists of the Muslim population, is considered a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party. Eight sensitive constituencies across Bijnor, Sambhal and Saharanpur districts.

Union Minister BL Verma said, " First phase of election  was in favour of BJP. A pair of boys came in 2017, SP-BSP had an alliance in 2019, both the times they lost. Another pair of boys have come (SP-RLD) now, they'll lose again and BJP will win with a majority of over 300 seats". 

Congress leader Harish Rawat in Lalkuan, said, "This election is about the people of Uttarakhand vs BJP. In the last 5 years, BJP has crushed the ambitions of the people. I will stay in politics for 15-20 years. I have to stay young to build the future of Uttarakhand and throw BJP out of here".  

Fifty-five constituencies spread across nine districts of Uttar Pradesh are voting today, amid an increasingly shrill, polarised campaign.

Polling was held in two other BJP-ruled states, Goa and Uttarakhand. Single-phase polling was underway in Goa and Uttarakhand for 40 seats and  70 seats of Uttarakhand respectively. In both states, the ruling party is facing an anti-incumbency wave. 

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has  claimed the BJP will win more than 22 seats in the 40-member state Assembly, the polling for which is currently underway, and said he will continue to hold the top post if his party forms government in the coastal state.

Voting began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. The counting of votes will be held on March 10.