Polling for 30 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Wednesday morning to decide the fate of 423 candidates, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow.
Other prominent contestants are UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav (Mainpuri) and Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi (Allahabad).
Over 3.98 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure a violence-free day, official sources said.
Special measures have been taken in Etawah, Mainpuri, Kannauj and Firozabad constituencies.
