UP Civic Polls 2017 Results Live Updates: Early gains for BJP in Yogi Adityanath's first test

The Bharatiya Janata Party was off to a flying start as counting for the Uttar Pradesh civic polls 2017 began, early trends suggested. The party was leading in most of the mayoral seats after a few rounds of voting.

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh faces its biggest electoral test today since coming to power earlier this year. After a mammoth election process that saw 652 local bodies go to poll, results for Uttar Pradesh's civic body election will be announced today.

Voting in UP's civic polls was conducted in three phases, on November 22, 26 and 29. The overall voter turnout was 52.4 per cent, an improvement of over six per cent points over the previous civic body polls. Over 3.36 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise at 36,269 polling booths.

In 2012, the BJP had swept the mayoral polls, winning 10 of the 12 posts of mayor in the state.

The ruling BJP left no stone unturned to ensure victory in all 652 urban local bodies across the state, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath picking the baton himself and campaigning rigorously in 16 cities.

Adityanath kickstarted the campaign for civic polls from Ayodhya, where he sought to convince the electorate that a win for the BJP would ensure holistic development.

Source: India today