Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: Nirmala Sitharaman Says Clear Mandate for PM Modi to Form Govt Again

A pregnant woman and her husband, after casting their vote at polling booth number 164 in Nehru Nagar of Solapur, Maharashtra.

After casting her vote, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated voters for turning up in large numbers. She said, "It is encouraging to see the yound and old queueing up to vote. We have got a positive response and our candidate (Tejaswi) is a strong one."

Mayawati Accuses Yogi Adityanath of 'Open Violation' of EC's Ban | Meanwhile, BSP supremo Maywati has accused Yogi Adityanath of "blatant violation" of the Election Commission's ban on him. On Thursday she tweeted, "In an open violation of the Election Commission's ban, the UP CM Yogi is constantly trying visiting the city and temples and having food at the houses of Dalits. Why is the EC kind to him? 

Visual from polling station number 200 in Silchar where VVPAT was not working properly earlier today. Sahadat Ali, Sector Officer sayid "The VVPAT is fine now, people can now cast their votes." 

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan queue up outside polling station 27 at Alwarpet Corporation School in Chennai to cast their votes in second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde casts his vote at a polling station in Solapur, Maharashtra in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019.

After Nagaon, Mangaldoi and Silchar, EVM malfunctioned in Karimganj constituency in Assam.

Congress candidate from Bengal's Raiganj, Deepa Das Munshi alleged that there was delay in certain booths as polling agents couldn't reach on time.

A polling station in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon. Voting on three parliamentary constituencies in the state for the second phase of elections will be held today.

Mobile Internet Services Snapped in J&K | In Jammu and Kashmir, mobile internet services have been snapped in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley as a precautionary measure, as Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies go to vote today in the second phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Visual from a polling booth in Kathua, ahead of second phase polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 today.

Thin voter turnout in Halflong of Dima Hasao district till 8am. Shops and businesses remain shut as a result of the 36 hour Bandh called by Dimasa National Liberation Army.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at polling booth 54 in Jayanagar of Bangalore South Parliamentary constituency to cast her vote. Tejaswi Surya is contesting from the Bangalore South constituency.

Poll on Hold in Parts of Bengal for Flawed EVMs | Due to defective EVMs, polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019, is yet to begin at booth number 29/134 at Islampur Hindi FP School of Uttar Dinajpur, in Raiganj Parliamentary constituency.

Nalini Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram and his wife Srinidi Rangarajan casts their vote at a polling station in Karaikudi, Sivaganga. 

Congress candidate from Sivaganga constituency, Karti Chidambaram reaffirmed his faith on the alliance and said that the party will have "a comfortable win in Tamil Nadu." "We are privileged to live in a democracy, so we should all come out to vote. The election is not about me, but about removing a fascist government. Every institution is being used by the government to subvert votes."

Actor turned politician Rajinikanth casts his vote at the polling station in Stella Maris College, in Chennai Central parliamentary constituency in the second phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla casts her vote in Imphal for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency

Meanwhile, BJP's Bangalore South candidate Tejaswi Surya has thanked PM Modi for giving him the "opportunity". "I request all voters of city to come out in large numbers and vote in the festival of democracy. Everybody is enthusiastic, people are eager to cast vote, I am sure we will this elections with record breaking margins," he said.

Congress leader P Chidambaram casts his vote at a polling station in Karaikudi, Sivagangai.

Faulty EVMs Marring Elections in Bengal | In West Bengal, Congress candidate Deepa Dasmunshi failed to cast her vote at Kaliagunj seat due to EVM malfunctioning. She is still waiting. Gorkha leader Binoy Tamang also could not cast his vote due to faulty EVM at booth number 23/76 in Darjeeling. However, efforts are on to replace the EVM machines.

Dilip Saikia, BJP candidate from Mangaldoi, Assam casts his vote.

EVM Malfunction Reported in Assam | In Assam, EVM malfunction reported from Nagaon, Mangaldoi and Silchar constituencies. Besides, polling started late at Nrityamayee LP School where Congress sitting MP Sushmita Dev is waiting to cast her vote. Five constituencies in Assam will vote today.

3 Seats in Bengal to Vote Today | There are three constituencies in West Bengal that will go to the polls on April 18 - Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Raiganj. In Bengal, all eyes are on Darjeeling. The BJP has fielded Raju Singh Bisht for the constituency and TMC has fielded Amar Singh Rai. The Congress candidate for Darjeeeling is Shankar Malakar and Saman Pathak has been fielded by CPI (M).

Election in Tripura Deferred | Meanwhile, in Tripura, the Election Commission of India deferred the polls to April 23 in the Eastern constituencies of the state, saying the prevailing law and order situation there was not conducive for holding free and fair polls. Citing reports of state chief electoral officer and special police observer, the poll panel said, "The law and order situation prevailing ... is not conducive to the holding of free and fair poll."

Eight seats in Uttar Pradesh and five seats in Bihar are going to polls in the second phase. The BJP won all of these eight seats in UP against a divided opposition. It will have to face the combined strength of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) this time.

Election in Vellore Scrapped | Tamil Nadu will go to polls under the shadow of multiple raids involving what the authorities say is a cash-for-votes scam in Tamil Nadu. Polling in Vellore constituency has been scrapped by the Election Commission India following huge cash haul by Income Tax officials. 

2nd Phase of Lok Sabha Elections Today | The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections began this morning.The polling will take place in 95 Lok Sabha constituencies across 11 states. Tamil Nadu and Odisha will witness the Assembly elections alonside Lok Sabha. In Tamil Nadu, elections are being held in 38 Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats and in Odisha polls will take place in 35 assembly constituencies.