Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the voters of Uttar Pradesh to exercise their franchise as 58 constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh are going to the polls, kicking off the assembly election.

In a tweet, PM Modi, “Today is the first phase of voting in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. I request all voters to participate enthusiastically adhering to the Covid rules. First vote and then refreshment.”

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Union home minister Amit Shah also tweeted urging voters in maximum numbers.

“Today is the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. I appeal to all the brothers and sisters of this phase to vote in maximum numbers to elect a government that will give you security, respect and good governance along with development in the state. Your one vote is the basis of the bright future of Uttar Pradesh,” Amit Shah said in a tweet.

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Districts that are going to the polls today include Mathura, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Hapur, Shamli, Baghpat, Aligarh, Agra and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Today’s polling will put 623 candidates to test while 2.27 crore voters will deliver their judgement.