Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Banda, and Fatehpur are among the districts that will vote in the UP election.
On the ground, the impacts of the cattle slaughter ban, as well as its stringent enforcement by the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, can be witnessed.
"India is not searching for their approval, is not willing to play the game they want to play," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, slamming the US-based Freedom House and Sweden's V-Dem Institute for degrading Indian democracy.