Voting is in progress across nine states and Union Territories in the fifth and final phase of Lok Sabha elections. Here is a state-wise report:
PUNJAB
An estimated 30 to 35 per cent of total 1.16 crore electorates cast their votes till 1 pm as the polling to nine Lok Sabha seats in Punjab was peaceful on Wednesday barring few incidents of malfunctioning by EVMs and clash between scribes and ruling Shiromani Akali Dal supporters near Moga city.
Braving the hot and torrid heat conditions voters are turning out at polling booths to exercise their franchise, election office said, adding that between 30 to 35 per cent polling has been reported which is brisk in rural areas as compared to urban.
TAMIL NADU
A local DMK functionary was stabbed to death near a polling booth in Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency, even as over 35 per cent of the 4.16 crore electorate used their franchise till noon in Tamil Nadu.
Local DMK secretary Thangavel was killed at Pappanampatti in Dindigul parliamentary seat by a former associate near a polling booth over an old enmity, police said. Tension gripped the area following the incident but situation was soon brought under control, they added.
In Chennai Central constituency, supporters of DMK's Dayanidhi Maran and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi's Hyder Ali clashed in front of a polling booth, over allegations of bogus voting, in which a man was injured and few vehicles, including that of Ali, were damaged, police said.
UTTAR PRADESH
Over 32 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies spread over same number of districts in the state.
"Till 1 pm, 8.55 per cent voters exercised their franchise in 14 parliamentary constituencies. The polling has been peaceful so far," election department officials said.
Maximum of 36 per cent polling was registered in Pilibhit, where BJP leader Varun Gandhi is in the fray. In Rampur, where actor-turned politician Jaya Prada is in the fray 33 per cent votes were polled till 1 pm.
Moradabad, from where former Indian cricket team captain Mohd Azahruddin is making his debut in electoral politics, polling which started on a slow note picked up and 33 per cent voters had exercised their franchise so far.
Maneka Gandhi's constituency Aonla registered a polling of 29.6 per cent. Dhaurara from where Union Minister Jitin Prasad is in the fray, 34.29 per cent voters exercised their franchise so far.
WEST BENGAL
A voter turnout of 25 to 30 per cent was recorded till noon in the elections to 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase in West Bengal which remained by and large peaceful.
State Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said a clash between CPI-M and Trinamool Congress was reported from Bhangar in South 24-parganas district. There was also tension at some booths in the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency.
The polling in Kolkata, which has two constituencies -- Kolkata South and Kolkata North -- has also remained peaceful and incident-free, the police said.
