Phase 1 voter turnout for LS polls

Polling in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections has been concluded today. The elections took place on 102 constituencies in 21 states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Jammu Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

63.20% polling in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu recorded voter turnout of 63.20% till 5 p.m. today. Polling was held in all 39 Lok Sabha seats in the first phase of general elections.

Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest poll percentage - 67.52% - with Namakkal, Arani, and Kallakurichi following at 67.37%, 67.34% and 67.23%, respectively.

Chennai North recorded 59.16% while Chennai Central and South followed with 57.25% and 57.04% polling, respectively.

54.85% polling in Maharashtra

Five Vidarbha seats in Maharashtra recorded at least 54.85% polling till 5 p.m. today, election officials said.

The five Lok Sabha constituency-wise percentages in the first phase were: Ramtek 52.38%; Nagpur 47.91%; Bhandara-Gondia 56.87%; Gadchiroli-Chimur 64.95% and Chandrapur 55.11%.

46.32% polling in Bihar

Bihar voted 46.32% till 5 p.m. in the four parliamentary constituencies across the state.

68% polling in Manipur

Amidst stray incidents of violence, including vandalisation of polling booths, firing, and clashes, around 68% of 15.44 lakh voters cast their votes in two Lok Sabha seats (one partially) in ethnic violence-hit Manipur today.

Police officials said that incidents of vandalisation of polling booths, damage to the EVMs by angry voters, firing between rival groups, and clashes among the rival party supporters were reported from Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West districts, leaving six people injured.

Voting will be held in the remaining 13 assembly segments of Outer Manipur (ST) seat in the second phase on Apr 26.

70.65% polling in Assam

Assam has recorded 70.65% voter turnout till 5 p.m. today, officials said.

Five Lok Sabha seats in Assam - Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Lakhimpur, and Sonitpur - went to the polls in the first phase.  

The highest turnout - 76.20% - was recorded in the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency.

Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat witnessed second highest voter turnout of 70.65% in the state.

Among these seats, Jorhat is set to witness an interesting contest between Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and incumbent BJP MP Topon Kumar Gogoi.

In Dibrugarh, union minister Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting against United Opposition Forum candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

77.57% polling in West Bengal

West Bengal registered 77.57% polling in the state till 5 p.m. The state was under a scanner after a few incidents of unrest at Cooch Behar seat.

69.91% polling in Meghalaya

Meanwhile, Meghalaya recorded 69.91% voter turnout till 5 p.m., as per the data provided by the Election Commission.

Shillong Lok Sabha seat recorded a voter turnout of 70.26%, while in Tura Lok Sabha seat, the turnout was 69.31%.

Both Lok Sabha seats in the hill state went to the polls in the first phase of the general election.

Polling in other states:

Uttar Pradesh (8 seats) - 53.56%

Uttarakhand (5 seats) - 57.54%

Tripura (1 seats) - 76.10%

Sikkim (1 seats) - 68.06%

Rajasthan (12 seats) - 50.27%

Puducherry (1 seats) - 72.84%

Nagaland (1 seats) - 55.79%

Mizoram (1 seats) - 52.73%

Madhya Pradesh (6 seats) - 63.25%

Lakshadweep (1 seats) - 59.02%

Jammu Kashmir (1 seats) - 65.08%

Chhattisgarh (1 seats) - 63.41%

Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats) - 63.27%

Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1 seats) - 56.87%

Phase 2 of Lok Sabha elections

Phase 2 polling is scheduled to take place on Apr 26 for 89 constituencies in 13 states including Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir.

(With inputs from IANS)