New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, on Wednesday said that the BJP was heading towards a strong mandate in the ongoing second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, asserting that voters were supporting the party’s policies beyond caste and religious lines.

He said, “Voting is underway in West Bengal, and the Bharatiya Janata Party is moving forward with a strong majority. People, rising above religion and caste, are supporting the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

As polling for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections continued, voter turnout stood at 18.39 per cent till 9 A.M., according to initial figures released from the polling stations. Voting began at 7 A.M. across 142 constituencies spread over six districts, including the state capital Kolkata, in the second and final phase of the two-phase Assembly polls.

The process, however, saw mild tension reported in certain pockets from the very beginning of polling. Authorities deployed security forces across sensitive areas to ensure the smooth conduct of voting and maintain order at polling stations.

The second phase is being closely watched as a decisive round of voting, with several high-profile constituencies in the fray. Officials are monitoring turnout trends closely as voting progresses through the day.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Brajesh Pathak also spoke about the Ganga Expressway inauguration, stating, “Today, the Ganga Expressway is being inaugurated in Hardoi. This is a path that fulfils the vision of a developed India. The construction of this expressway will give new momentum to the economic development of the entire state and the country.”

According to an official statement, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Hardoi and, around 11:30 A.M., inaugurate the Ganga Expressway and address a public gathering.

The Ganga Expressway marks a major infrastructure milestone, being a 594-kilometre-long, 6-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) access-controlled greenfield high-speed corridor, built at an estimated cost of around Rs 36,230 crore.

The expressway passes through 12 districts — Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj — connecting western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh through a continuous high-speed corridor, aimed at boosting connectivity and economic activity across the state.

–IANS

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