New Delhi: A man died in violence and glitches in Electronic Voting Machines were reported from several states as parts of India votes in the first round of a gigantic seven-phase national election that would end with the results on May 23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term in power with a campaign that has revolved largely around national security, along with promises of development, farm relief and welfare measures. At the forefront of the opposition charge is a re-energised Congress led by Rahul Gandhi, who accuses the government of corruption and crony capitalism. The alliance of bitter Uttar Pradesh rivals Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will also be tested as 91 seats across 18 states and two Union territories vote on Thursday. Polling ends on May 19. Lok Sabha has 545 seats, with a halfway mark of 272.
In Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, a worker of the Telugu Desam Party died after a clash. The Chief Election Officer of Andhra Pradesh has said 362 Electronic Voting Machines were malfunctioning.
IED blasts were reported from Maharashtra and the northeast, there has been no casualty. Voting, which was sluggish in the morning, has picked up. Northeast is leading the way with Tripura registering 30 per cent voting. Voting in Sikkim is the slowest, with 11 per cent voters exercising their franchise till 11 am.
The states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Telangana are voting on Thursday in a single phase. Voting is also being held in parts of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
In Uttar Pradesh, the state which sends the maximum number of lawmakers to the Lok Sabha, voting is being held in eight of 80 seats. The key constituencies include Saharanpur, Kairana, Ghaziabad, Baghpat and Gautam Buddha Nagar in western UP.
Among the key leaders standing for election on Thursday are five Union Ministers – Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur), Kiren Rijiju (Arunachal West), General VK Singh (Ghaziabad), Satyapal Singh (Baghpat) and Mahesh Sharma (Gautam Buddha Nagar). Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary are also contesting.
