Lok Sabha election voting LIVE: Maoists attack police team returning from polling booth in Chhattisgarh

LIVE updates of the first phase of voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections in four states

Zero polling reported in 15 booths in Chitrakonda and Mathili blocks of Malkangiri district in Odisha, suspected due to Maoist fear, News18 as reported.
Police and Maoists exchange fire in Narayanpur. One Maoist dead, News18 has reported.
Update: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has registered a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) demanding action against R Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, for violating model of code of conduct by posting Congress party press releases on social media, reports news agency ANI.
Pak PM Imran Khan has no right to interfere in Indian elections: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on April 11 hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over his remarks about India's general elections, saying he has no right to interfere in the country's electoral process. During an interaction with foreign journalists in Islamabad on Wednesday, Khan said he believed there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP wins the general election.

"... I have condemned the statement of Imran Khan. He has no right whatsoever to interfere in the electoral process of a great country like India," Owaisi said.
JUST IN: Firing reported near a polling booth in Nawada, Bihar. A woman has been reportedly injured.
India's Independence, Constitution under threat: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 11 claimed that India's Independence and its Constitution were under threat in the BJP regime.

Addressing a public meeting at Chauk Bazaar area here, the TMC supremo said the saffron party was trying to "take advantage of the political turmoil".

Referring to the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, the CM said, "India's independence and its Constitution have come under threat. People have forgotten the principles of Gandhiji, Netaji and Vivekananda under the BJP rule."

Taking a jibe at the prime minister, Banerjee said Narendra Modi was only interested in promoting himself. "He (Modi) has become so tall a leader that he is making films on his life. He has come up with NaMo shops to sell NaMo suits... After elections, these shops will also sell NaMo slippers. All Modi has ever done is to publicise himself," Banerjee added.
BJD slams BJP over poll code violation in Odisha, writes to EC

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has written to the Chief Electoral Officer, Bhubaneswar, over violation of EC guidelines by BJP for holding a press meet today. Details of the same were provided on scrolling news on OTV. "We demand strict action be taken against BJP, its leaders & OTV," the BJD letter stated.
EVMs replaced in Bijnor after discrepancies noticed during mock polling

At least 10 EVMs were replaced when discrepancies were detected during their mock trial in Bijnor before the beginning of polling, ANI reported.

Rakesh Kumar, Sector Magistrate Bijnor, said: “There were reports that some EVMs were displaying ‘lotus’ symbol after pressing the button against ‘elephant’ symbol at some polling booths.”

“The elections are being held peacefully here. There were some issues during mock polling. So we changed the entire set of EVMs,” Kumar said.
Voter turnout till 3 pm

Assam: 59.5%
Bihar: 41.73%
Lakshadweep: 51.25%
Manipur: 68.90%
Meghalaya: 55%
Nagaland: 68%
Telangana: 48.95%
Uttarakhand: 46.59%
Uttar Pradesh: 50.86%
Voters don’t need to know where political parties get their funds from: Centre

Attorney General KK Venugopal told the Supreme Court during a hearing on the electoral bonds scheme on Thursday that voters do not need to know where the money for political parties comes from, Bar and Bench reported. The Supreme Court reserved its judgement in the case for Friday morning.

The court is hearing petitions filed by non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms and Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury against the use of electoral bonds for political funding.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on PM Modi's 'invincibility': There have been many people in Indian history who had the arrogance to believe that they're invincible and bigger than the people of India. PM Modi, for the last five years, has done nothing for the people of India. His invincibility will be in full view after election results.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi: I'm happy for Narendra Modi to take any action on me, but tell me about Rafale deal. I challenge him. The day he agrees, people will know 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'.
Curbs on mobile internet in north Kashmir

With polling underway in two Lok Sabha constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, mobile internet has been stopped in north Kashmir.
Initial voter turnout encouraging: BJP

The BJP on Thursday said the initial voter turnout appears “encouraging” for the party.

“The voter turnout in most areas was around 35% and, in some areas, it even touched 40% (in six hours). If this is the trend, the voter turnout is very encouraging,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters in New Delhi.

She said party workers from various states have reported that the “mahaul” (atmosphere) was “encouraging”.

“Voters are turning out to vote despite the hot weather. I am sure if this trend continues, we will have a good respectable voter turnout. The BJP and the NDA’s workers are feeling extremely motivated,” the minister added.
Update: 51% voter turnout recorded until 3 pm in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
Update: 51% voter turnout recorded until 3 pm in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
Union Minister Smriti Irani files nomination from Amethi

Update: Union minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani files her nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency for Lok Sabha Elections 2019. She is contesting against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.
Overall voter turnout till 1 pm

Nagaland: 57%
Uttarakhand: 41.27%
Arunachal Pradesh: 40.95%
Tripura: 53.17%
Mizoram: 43.38%
Lakshwadweep: 37.7%
Manipur: 53.44%
West Bengal: 55.95%
Assam: 44.33%
Andhra Pradesh: 41%
Meghalaya: 44.5%
Sikkim: 39.08%
Mizoram: 45.5%