EVM malfunctioning reported at a few places in Bihar, Northeast
NEWS DESK
The polling has begun for first phase of 17th Lok Sabha elections. Voting is taking place in 91 Parliamentary constituencies spread over 18 states and two Union Territories.
The polling started in most of the constituencies at 7 this morning and will conclude at 6 in the evening. However, in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas and North Eastern States, the timings vary.
All parliamentary constituencies of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, and Uttarakhand are going to polls in this phase.
Besides, voting is also taking place in some seats of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Simultaneous voting is also taking place for single phase Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and for 28 of 147 seats in Odisha. In Chhattisgarh, polling began in tribal Bastar constituency amidst heavy security arrangements.
In Sikkim, polling is taking place for the entire Assembly as well as for lone Lok Sabha seat. Our correspondent reports that the polling will end at 5 this evening.
EVM malfunctioning reported at a few places in Bihar, Northeast. Fourteen Lok Sabha seats across Northeast are voting today. Assembly polls are being held simultaneous in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim along with the national elections.
1st Phase Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 1,014 third genders will exercise their votes today
In the first phase, as many as 1,50,65,682 voters– 82,24,835 males, 68,39,833 females and 1,014 third genders– will exercise their franchise in 16,518 booths set up inside 6,716 polling centres to decide the fate of 96 candidates.
1st Phase Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Nagpur constituency
Key candidates: Nitin Gadkari, the sitting BJP lawmaker, is up against Congress candidate Nana Patole.
Nitin Gadkari got six lakh of 10 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha polls
The constituency has a strength of 22 lakh voters and of the approximately ten lakh votes polled last time Nitin Gadkari won around six lakh votes
Nana Patole, the giant slayer
BJP rebel Nana Patole has a reputation of being the giant slayer. In 2014, Mr Patole, who was contesting on a BJP ticket, had defeated NCP heavyweight Praful Patel in the neighbouring Bhandara-Gondiya district.