LS Phase 2: No Votes Cast in 90 Booths of Srinagar LS Seat

Voting in 42 constituencies in nine states concluded amid reports of EVM malfunctioning in UP, Bihar, Assam and Maharashtra. Incidents of violence are being reported from West Bengal, where the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd blocking NH 34 to protest not being allowed to cast votes. A CPI(M) candidate's car was also vandalised, allegedly by TMC supporters.

Ten seats in Maharashtra, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam, Bihar and Odisha, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, two in J&K and one seat in Manipur are polling today.

For live updates on polling in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, click here.

Catch all the live updates for constituencies voting in South India here.

Out of the 10 seats that are in contention in the second phase of polling, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance had won nine seats in 2014, while the left over seat of Nanded was won by the Congress. The BJP-Sena alliance, as per the reports, is pulling all resources to win back these nine seats.

Facing the saffron alliance, is the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) comprising of the Congress, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and 54 other parties and non-government organisations, that will try to play the anti-incumbency card against the BJP-Sena alliance.

In Odisha, the ruling BJD dominates 4 out of 5 Odisha constituencies voting in this phase. Since Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s BJD has ruled for two decades straight, the BJP is hoping to make inroads this year.

35 of the 147 Assembly seats in Odisha will also vote simultaneously on 18 April.

In Uttar Pradesh, four general and four reserved seats will witness polling in the second phase. While Bulandshahr, Nagina, Hathras and Agra are reserved constituencies, Amroha, Aligarh, Mathura and Fatehpur Sikri are in the general category.

The eight seats voting on Thursday have a Muslim stronghold as well, with a Muslim population between 12 percent to 25 percent, Business Standard reported. Aligarh and Bulandshahr are two areas with a Muslim stronghold.

The Election Commission, on Tuesday 18 April, postponed the polling in the Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat to the third phase, on 23 April, saying the prevailing law and order situation in the state is 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." The returning officer had feared that "miscreant elements" may thwart the polling process in the constituency. Based on the ground and intelligence reports, he had requested for additional central police force, an NDTV report said.

The Election Commission will deploy nearly 194 companies of central forces, around 15,000 para-military troopers across the three constituencies – Raigunj, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling – voting on 18 April.

The rise in force deployment is about 150 percent, from 83 companies in the first phase to 194 in the second.

According to EC data, Darjeeling has 1,899 polling booths, Jalpaiguri has 1,868 booths and Raiganj has 1,623 polling stations. All these three seats combined have about 49 lakh voters.

As compared to the 15,000 troops to be deployed in the second phase, only 6,000 were there in the first phase of polling.

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, reported ANI.

Voting for the Lok Sabha elections in the second phase began in 42 constituencies across Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.

Heavyweight contenders like Jitendra Singh, Jual Oram, Raj Babbar, Farooq Abdullah and Hema Malini are in fray in Thursday’s polling.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer said on Wednesday, 17 April that as many as 46,69,819 campaigning material in wall writings, posters and banners have been removed under the purview of Model Code of Condust.

Congress leader and former Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde cast his vote at a polling station in Solapur, in the second phase of Lok Sabha election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Thursday, 18 April asking people to vote in the second phase of voting.

According to reports, voting is yet to start at booth number 201 in Agra and booth number 148 in Mathura due to EVM snags.

More than 100 EVMs were changed during polling hours in the first phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh.

Voting has begun at polling station number 200 in Silchar where VVPAT was not working properly earlier today, reported news agency ANI. Sahadat Ali, Sector Officer said: "The VVPAT is fine now, people can now cast their votes."

The five seats in Bihar have polled 4.5% votes till 8 am. Bhagalpur has recorded 7% votes, while Banka, Purnea and Katihar polled 4%. Kishanganj recorded 3.5% voting.

Manipur’s governor Najma Heptulla cast her vote at a polling booth in Imphal in Manipur on Thursday.

District Magistrate of Beed in Maharshtra has said that there have been reports of EVM and VVPAT malfunctioning in five booths, since morning. However, the machines have been replaced.

“Five places have reported EVM and VVPAT malfunction since morning in Beed constituency. Those are Georai, Mazalgaon, Kej, Ashti, Parali. However all those machines have been replaced immediately and polling is going smoothly at all locations,” he said.

Polling commenced amid tight security for the Srinagar Parliamentary seat which will see former chief minister and NC president Farooq Abdullah, go against People's Conference candidate, Irfan Ansari, PDP's Aga Mohsin, and BJP's Khalid Jehangir.

Polling is on in the hill constituency of Darjeeling in West Bengal. Darjeeling is one of the seats, the BJP holds in the state.

Voters queue outside polling booth number 439 in UP’s Bulandshahr, where polling has not started due to faulty EVM.

People queue up outside booth number 46 in Gantholi village of Govardhan block in Mathura. The voting here was delayed due to EVM malfunction.

A Congress symbol was spotted outside polling booth at Triveni Nayak School in Katihar in Bihar.

No votes have been cast at booth number 166 of Nagla Shadi village in Agra. The villagers are boycotting the elections in protest against lack of developmental measures undertaken by the government, FirstPost reported.

UP Cabinet Minister Srikant Sharma cast his vote at booth number 48 in Govardhan block in Mathura.

Voting procedure was halted at booths 261 and 263 in Bolangir Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha due to EVM malfunction. The voting has now resumed.

Voter turnout in five seats of Bihar till 9 am stood at 12.27 percent, reported news agency ANI.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh cast his vote at a polling booth in Imphal.

The voter turnout in Assam, as of 9 am was reported to be 8.74 percent, as per Election Commission data.

Till 9 am, 0.99 percent voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir

Less than one percent voting has been recorded in Maharashtra till 9 am.

3.99 voters exercised their voting rights in UP till 9 am.

Till 9 am, 7.75% voter turnout was recorded in Chhattisgarh

1.78% voting was recorded in Manipur till 9 am.

West Bengal recorded just 0.55 percent voter turnout till 9 am.

Voting is underway in Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies, in Jammu and Kashmir

Reports of EVMs not working in several booths in Odisha's Talsara Assembly constituency have emerged, while polling in six booths in Bonai Assembly constituency has been delayed over glitches in EVM.

35 Assembly seats are also voting simultaneously in Odisha, along with the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Thursday, asking people to vote for NYAY- the party’s proposed minimum income guarantee scheme for the poor.

Actor-turned politician and Congress’ candidate from the Fatehpur Sikri seat in Uttar Pradesh, Raj Babbar, cast his vote on Thursday.

A polling official deputed at polling booth number 186 in Kanker died of a heart attack during election duty, ANI reported.

19.5% percent votes were cast in Bihar till 10 am.

Visuals from polling stations in Srinagar parliamentary constituency. Polling is underway in Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state.

105-year-old Kavaibai Kamble along with her family cast her vote at a polling station in Harangul Budruk in Latur constituency in Maharashtra.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Buxar, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, cast his vote at a polling station in Bhagalpur in Bihar.

Polling has temporarily been halted at booth number 217 in Solapur's Shastri Nagar due to fault in Electronic Voting Machine, news agency ANI reported.

Sitting MP from Silchar and Congress’ candidate from the parliamentary constituency, Sushmita Dev, cast her vote along with her mother and sister at a polling booth in Silchar.

After being stopped by security personnel from entering a polling booth, Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh and his supporters were reportedly let in after the District Magistrate allowed so.

Since Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar goes to polls today, during the second phase of polling, the streets in Srinagar appear deserted after a boycott call by Hurriyat leaders, FirstPost reported.

Mobile internet has been shut, and heavy security has been deployed in the J&K constituency due to the polling today.

BJP General Secretary and candidate from Raiganj constituency, Debasree Chaudhuri alleged that TMC workers were trying to capture booths at Raiganj Coronation High School.

Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 32.18 percent till 11 am.

Maharashtra Congress chief and sitting MP from Nanded, Ashok Chavan cast his vote at a polling station in the state’s Nanded constituency.

CPM candidate from Raiganj, Mohammed Salim's car was vandalised, allegedly by TMC supporters.

The attack allegedly happened when Salim confronted TMC supporters who were blocking him.

After reports of CPM candidate Mohd Salim's car being vandalised, reports also said that security personnel lobbed tear gas shells at and lathi-charged locals as they blocked the NH-34 in protest after unknown miscreants allegedly prevented them from casting their votes at Digirpar polling booth in Chopra, Islampur, subdivision of North Dinajpur.

Voter turnout till 11 am in Bihar was recorded at 18.97 percent.

Voter turnout till 11 am in Uttar Pradesh stands at 24.31 percent.

National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah cast their votes at a polling station in Munshi Bagh Area in Srinagar. O Abdullah, while casting his vote, said, "Now that LS polls are due to conclude, we can only hope that Centre together with EC gives people of J&K an elected govt which is their right."

Omar Abdullah, on the other hand, lashed out at the BJP for fielding the Malegaon Blast case accused from Bhopal.

Assam recorded a 26.39 percent voter turnout til 11 am.

Chhattisgarh, during the second phase of polling, recorded a voter turnout of 26.20 Percent as of 11 am.

With reports of EVM malfunctioning coming in from the state of Maharashtra, the Congress has filed a complaint with poll panel. It said that this will lead to a low voter turnout, Times Now reported.

A 22-year-old BJP Yuva Morcha member named Sisupal Sahis was found hanging from a tree in Senabana village of Arsha (Purulia) on the day of second phase of polling. Police have started an investigation.

Polling booth number 193 in Buldhana, Maharashtra is being managed by specially-abled staff. Presiding officer, says, "This booth is being managed by specially-abled staff only. I appeal to all specially-abled persons to cast their votes to strengthen democracy.

Voter turnout till 11 AM in Jammu & Kashmir's Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary constituency stands at 17.80 percent.

Kanwar Singh Tanwar, BJP’s candidate from Amroha alleged that fake voting is happening in the state, since women in Burkha’s are not being checked.

One Indo-Tibetan-Border Police jawan was injured in an IED blast by the Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon at 11 am.

The constable, identified as one Mann Singh received minor injuries adn is out of danger. The report also said that he is performing his duty now, after receiving first aid in the area.

33 percent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm in Odisha in second phase polls, according to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer.

The state is also voting for 35 assembly seats, simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

31.28 percent of votes were cast in Bihar till 1 pm, according to the State Chief Electoral Officer.

Villagers of Mangoli Kala boycott Lok Sabha Elections2019 over lack of adequate irrigation facilities in the village. Polling official of one of the booth (booth number 41) said, "Nobody has turned up to vote till now."

Assam recorded a voter turnout of 46.40 percent till 1 pm, during the second phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections.

Three seats polling in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, 18 April recorded a voter turnout of 47 percent till 1 pm.

An EVM was vandalised during a clashes between TMC and BJP workers in West Bengal’s Chopra.

At 1 pm, the voter turnout in West Bengal stood at 51.60 percent. The turn out in Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat was 47.52 percent, 54.73 percent in Jalpaiguri, and 52.54 percent in Raiganj.

Voting was disrupted at polling station 6/10 Kyamgei Muslim Makha Leikai in Inner Manipur. People stormed the polling station and destroyed the EVM, a FirstPost report suggested.

Shots were fired by security personnel to disperse the mob. More details are awaited.

Voter turnout in Maharashtra was recorded at 35.4 percent till 1 pm.

The polling stopped at booth number 213 in Sundergarh Town following technical glitches in EVMs. The returning officer has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for re-polling in the booth.

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh and his family cast their vote for the Rajnandgaon parliamentary constituency.

Voters queue up to cast their votes at a polling booth in Assam’s Nagaon for the Lok Sabha elections.

The voter turnout till 3 PM in Jammu and Kashmir is 38.5%, including 5.7% in Srinagar, reports ANI.

The Congress on Thursday, 18 April, said it has submitted 33 complaints to the Election Commission about "glitches" in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) at some polling booths across Maharashtra's 10 Lok Sabha seats where voting was underway.

It also flagged concerns about poor lighting arrangements at some polling centres, the statement said, as reported by PTI.

"Solapur, Hingoli and Nanded constituencies have reported more EVM-related complaints," Vinay Pandey of the state Congress' legal cell said.

The total voter turnout in West Bengal till 3 pm is 65.43%. Jalpaiguri (SC) recorded 71.32%, Darjeeling recorded 63.14%, Raiganj had 61.84 % voter turnout.

An average 46.63 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm in 10 constituencies of Maharashtra where polling is underway in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, an official said.

Polling is being held in Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Osmanabad, Latur and Solapur Lok Saba constituencies, an official said.

Nearly 39 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm Thursday in the polling for the eight Lok Sabha of Uttar Pradesh in the second phase of elections.

The Election Commission figures put the overall voter turnout till 1 pm at 38.94 percent in the voting.

The voter recorded turnout till 3 pm in Manipur was 67.5%, UP was 50.39%, Odisha was 41.22%, Chhattisgarh was 59.72% and Bihar was 45.65%.

A Paralytic patient in Assam's Silchar came in an ambulance to cat her vote. Shefali Kar voted in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Silchar Constituency.

The voting in four booths in Odisha have been adjourned due to "human error" by polling officials, said Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar.

As reported by ANI, Kumar has recommended re-polling in booth 213 in Sundergarh, booth 129 in Bonai, and booths 210 & 222 in Daspalla assembly constituency due to technical problems in EVM machines and VVPATs.

“Technical problems arose due to lapses on part of the polling officers, action will be taken against those officers for dereliction of duty,” he added.

Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency recorded 58.13 per cent polling, while the turnout was low in Srinagar seat with only 12.43 per cent of voters exercising their franchise till 3 pm on Thursday, 18 April, in the second phase of general elections in Jammu and Kashmir, according to poll officials.

No untoward incident was reported during polling which was being held amid tight security due to militant threats and a boycott call by separatists in Kashmir.

The voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh till 5 pm has been recorded at 58.61%.

The election Commission tweeted the overall voter turnout till 5:40 pm.

The voter turnout in Assam is 73.32%.

The voter turnout in Bihar is 58.14%.

The voter turnout in Chhattisgarh is 68.70%.

The voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir is 43.37%.

The voter turnout in Maharashtra 55.37%.

The voter turnout in Manipur is 74.69%.

The voter turnout in Odisha is 57.41%.

The voter turnout in West Bengal is 75.27%.

The voter turnout in UP is 58.12%.

The Election Commission on Thursday, 18 April, said that Chhattisgarh has recorded 71% voter turnout in second phase. The total voter turnout of first and second phase stands at 68.67%.

The poll official said at a press conference that the voter turnout for Jammu and Kashmir on seats of Srinagar is 13.43% and Udhampur is recorded at 66.67%.

The interim voter turnout in West Bengal amid incidents of violence was recorded at 76.07%.

The communique said that 73.32 per cent votes were polled across 8,992 booths in Karimganj(SC), Silchar, Autonomous Districts(ST), Nowgong and Mangaldoi constituencies to decide the fate of 50 candidates.

The Election Commission said that the voter turnout in Manipur is recorded at 74.3% in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The overall interim voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh in the second phase is recorded at 62.3%, as per EC.

The EC said that the voter turnout for the second phase polling in Bihar was 62.52%.

The voter turnout in Maharashtra was recorded 62% and 64% in Odisha.

As many as 90 polling booths, mostly in downtown city, saw no voting in Thursday's elections to the Srinagar Parliamentary seat, sources said.

The Srinagar constituency comprising eight assembly segments recorded zero turnout in as many as 50 polling booths.

The majority of these booths were located in Eidgah, Khanyar, Habba Kadal and Batmaloo, sources said.

Tripura Congress President Pradyot Kishore Deb Burman slapped a man inside Khowai police station in Tripura. According to sources, the man was arrested for attacking convoy of Pragya Deb Burman, Tripura Congress candidate & Pradyot's elder sister, reports ANI.