Assembly Election 2022: 49.81% voter turnout till 3pm in Punjab and 48.81% in Uttar Pradesh

One of the most keenly awaited elections in the ongoing 5-state Assembly poll exercise is taking place today.

117 constituencies in the border state of Punjab are voting today to elect their next government. The multi-cornered contest is seeing incumbent Congress being challenged by the BJP-PLC alliance, the Akali Dal-BSP tie-up, the Aam Aadmi Party, and a political front floated by some farm unions who were part of the year-long protest against 3 contentious farm laws.

Along with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh is holding its third phase of voting today. 59 of UP's 403 constituencies are voting to select representatives from a total of 627 candidates.

Also watch: Punjab Elections 2022 | All you need to know

The high-profile candidates in this phase include Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Union minister and BJP candidate SP Singh Baghel, contesting from Karhal.

The fates of Akhilesh's uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav from Jaswantnagar, and former Kanpur police chief and newly-inducted BJP leader Asim Arun from Kannauj, will be decided in this phase.

Results will be announced on March 10.

Also watch: UP Election 2022: 59 assembly seats voting in Phase 3 - Here's all you need to know