Assembly elections: Andhra Pradesh records 73 per cent polling, Odisha 66 per cent

Andhra assembly election: Official sources said clashes between TDP and YSRC workers were reported in Guntur, Anantapuramu, West Godavari, Prakasam, Kurnool and Kadapa districts, but did not specify deaths.

Polling in Andhra Pradesh was held simultaneously for 175 Assembly seats featuring 2,118 candidates and 25 Lok Sabha seats having 319 contestants.

An impressive turnout of over 73 per cent recorded in single phase assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu claims at least 30 per cent of EVMs encountered problems across the state, a charge the Election Commission denied.

Clashes between TDP and YSRCP workers mar polling in Andhra Pradesh

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/vebnmwZjNU pic.twitter.com/HT58ASWMcq

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 11, 2019

Earlier visuals: One security personnel injured after clash broke out between TDP & YSRCP workers in Kurnool’s Ahobilam area today. #AndhraPradesh

Earlier visuals: One security personnel injured after clash broke out between TDP & YSRCP workers in Kurnool’s Ahobilam area today. #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/nUaa4d96Y0

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sushil Kr Majhi, local: There are 2 roads which lead to our village - one runs through a dense forest &amp; the other is dangerous &amp; is avoided by all. We had told this to Dist Collector &amp; DCP but to no avail. 2017 is now 2019 but there is no road. So we have boycotted the election. <a href="https://t.co/k2XsBNXQDc">pic.twitter.com/k2XsBNXQDc</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1116319173062184963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Odisha Chief Electoral Officer said that six booths of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district saw no voting due to threat by naxals.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) accuses YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders of indulging in violence and damaging electronic voting machines (EVMs). 

"There is a lot of violence in Kadapa, Anantapuram, and Kurnool and Nellore districts...In certain cases, they have even damaged the polling materials like EVMs and threatening polling personnel to allow them to rig votes," Andhra CM  N Chandrababu Naidu writes to state DGP RP Thakur.

Odisha: While polling will be held in eight  assembly segments till 6 pm, voting will end at 4 pm in 20 Maoist-affected constituencies.

Odisha Congress spokesperson Sonali Sahoo quits party, expressing displeasure over ticket allotment for assembly elections.

Voting is underway for 57 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha constituencies at 2,202 polling stations. There are 7,98,249 voters in the state.

Voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh was 50.87 per cent till 3 pm. 

Three persons injured as supporters of two rival political parties clashed in Tali Assembly constituency of Arunachal Pradesh during polling. 

Andhra Pradesh: A YSRCP worker taken to a hospital after he was injured in a clash which broke out between YSRCP and TDP workers at a polling station in Jammalamadugu Mandal of Kadapa district today. 

Andhra Pradesh: A YSRCP worker has been taken to a hospital after he was injured in a clash which broke out between YSRCP and TDP workers at a polling station in Jammalamadugu Mandal of Kadapa district today. #IndiaElections2019 #AndhraPradeshElections2019 pic.twitter.com/JTQ0c7AnWL

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) writes to Chief Electoral Officer, Bhubaneswar, over violation of EC guidelines by BJP for holding press meet today and details of the same being provided on scrolling news on OTV. 

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) writes to Chief Electoral Officer, Bhubaneswar, over violation of EC guidelines by BJP for holding press meet today and details of the same being provided on scrolling news on OTV. We demand strict action be taken against BJP, its leaders & OTV. #Odisha pic.twitter.com/Kg59HPDCd1

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Good job, political stability and peaceful environment are on the wish list of many first time voters in Arunachal Pradesh, where simultaneous Lok Sabha and assemly polls are being held on Thursday.

Andhra Pradesh: A clash broke out between workers of TDP and YSRCP at a polling station in Srinivasapuram Village of Gurajala assembly constituency in Guntur district. 

#WATCH Andhra Pradesh: A clash broke out between workers of TDP and YSRCP at a polling station in Srinivasapuram Village of Gurajala assembly constituency in Guntur district. #IndiaElections2019 #AndhraPradeshElections2019 pic.twitter.com/lF0edCFuFf

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

TDP candidate Kodela Sivaprasad Rao who was injured in AP's Guntur district.

TDP leader S Bhaskar Reddy killed in clashes in Tadipatri town of Anantapur. TDP has alleged that YSRCP workers are behind the incident.

Clash breaks out between YSRCP and TDP workers in Puthalapattu Constituency in Bandarlapalli, Andhra Pradesh. Police resorted to lathi-charge.

#WATCH: Clash broke out between YSRCP and TDP workers in Puthalapattu Constituency in Bandarlapalli, Andhra Pradesh. Police resorted to lathi-charge pic.twitter.com/q7vxRIR0R8

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan at the polling booth set up at Chaitanya School in Vijayawada.

Andhra Pradesh: Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan at the polling booth set up at Chaitanya School in Vijayawada. pic.twitter.com/qHI06IskKP

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) disrupted the polling in Andhra Pradesh briefly in some constituencies. The polling at Kanchikacherla village of Krishna district had to be halted till the machines were rectified or replaced.

Voting underway at a polling station in Berhampur in Odisha

#LokSabhaElections2019: Voting underway at a polling station in Berhampur in Odisha pic.twitter.com/Vc6WExDuf6

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

It is likely that many voters who returned may not come back for voting even if polling is resumed after replacement/repair of existing EVMs.Therefore repolling needed in all polling stations where polling had not commenced upto 9.30am: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a letter to CEC

An overall 7 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in Odisha. Lok Sabha seats - Koraput recorded 10 per cent and Berhampur recorded 11 per cent. Malkangiri, which is an assembly seat, recorded 4 per cent.

Life in Kashmir was disrupted Thursday due to a strike called by separatists to protest against polling for first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the Valley and NIA action against Hurriyat Conference leaders and their kin, reported news agency PTI. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed due to the strike while attendance in government and private offices was thin, officials said.

#Sikkim 's #OldestVoter, Sumitra Rai, (107 years old) from Poklok Kamraang Constituency, South Sikkim #SikkimVotes #DeshKaMahaTyohar #SikkimElections2019 #GotInked #MyVoteMatters pic.twitter.com/1ZhQG2OnIN

— Office of The Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim (@SikkimElection) April 11, 2019

Jana Sena MLA candidate Madhusudhan Gupta smashes an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Gooty, in Anantapur district. He has been arrested by police.

#WATCH Jana Sena MLA candidate Madhusudhan Gupta smashes an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Gooty, in Anantapur district. He has been arrested by police. #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/VoAFNdA6Jo

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

People in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh queue up to cast their votes for Lok Sabha election: Watch

#WATCH People in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh queue up to cast their votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/JNpWE8XPmO

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Telangana Rashtra Samithi's K Kavitha casts her vote at a polling station in Pothangal, in Nizamabad parliamentary constituency.

Telangana: Telangana Rashtra Samithi's K Kavitha casts her vote at a polling station in Pothangal, in Nizamabad parliamentary constituency pic.twitter.com/Cn4VHL34uD

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

From seniors to first-time voters, voting enthusiasm in air in #Sikkim#GoVote #LoksabhaElections2019 #DeshKaMahaTyohar pic.twitter.com/F3FsqLVeCp

— ECI #DeshKaMahaTyohar (@ECISVEEP) April 11, 2019

"I VOTED" stickers will be distributed to PwD Voters and all women voters to instil a sense of achievement and empowerment in playing a significant role in the democratic process. #SikkimElections2019 #DeshKaMahaTyohar #SikkimVotes #MyVoteMatters #PinkPolls
Helpline No: 1950 pic.twitter.com/BzSEtCgdDa

— Office of The Chief Electoral Officer, Sikkim (@SikkimElection) April 10, 2019

It will be a decisive win in Mangalgiri (assembly seat) and also across the state. I am here to convince my electorate that I am a meaningful ana worthy candidate, and I think I've done that: Andhra Pradesh IT Minister and TDP's Nara Lokesh

YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy after casting his votes in Kadapa: I'm very confident, people are looking for a change, vote without fear.

YSR Congress Party Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy after casting his votes in Kadapa: I'm very confident, people are looking for a change, vote without fear. #AndhraPradeshElection2019 #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/jitKKO8VWK

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

TDP MP candidate from Vijayawada, Kesineni Srinivas castes his vote at a polling booth in St. Joseph Girl's High School, Gunadala, Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh: TDP MP candidate from Vijaywada, Kesineni Srinivas castes his vote at a polling booth in St. Joseph Girl's High School, Gunadala, Vijaywada pic.twitter.com/nKUyBMupY3

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his family after casting their vote for Lok Sabha election in Amravati.

Andhra Pradesh: TDP MP candidate from Vijaywada, Kesineni Srinivas castes his vote at a polling booth in St. Joseph Girl's High School, Gunadala, Vijaywada pic.twitter.com/nKUyBMupY3

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

People queue up at a polling booth in Amaravati to cast their vote.

Andhra Pradesh: People queue up at a polling booth in Amaravati to cast their vote for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/t5bcemhN7K

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Visuals from a polling booth in Visakhapatnam:

Andhra Pradesh: Visuals from a polling booth in Vishapkhapatnam as voting begins for #LokSabhaElections2019 . Voting on 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state is being held today. pic.twitter.com/PRvxWQXgQp

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets and says. #LokSabhaElections2019 commence today. I call upon all those whose constituencies are voting in the first phase today to turn out in record numbers and exercise their franchise. I specially urge young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers.

Voters queue outside polling booth no 134 in Pulivendula, ahead of voting for the first phase Lok Sabha election.

Andhra Pradesh: Voters queue outside polling booth no 134 in Pulivendula, ahead of voting for the first phase #LokSabhaElections2019. Voting on 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state will be held today. pic.twitter.com/xLhGo4fYra

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

"Election day is when we must all take the lead and march to polling booths. At ZEE we pledge to encourage voter turnout by pausing our shows & content across our channels on election days from 8 AM-10 AM. Requesting every eligible Indian citizen to go out & vote. #GrownUpsGoVote," tweeted Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.

Election day is when we must all take the lead and march to polling booths. At ZEE we pledge to encourage voter turnout by pausing our shows & content across our channels on election days from 8 AM-10 AM. Requesting every eligible Indian citizen to go out & vote. #GrownUpsGoVote pic.twitter.com/8MBgPur31x

— Punit Goenka (@punitgoenka) April 11, 2019

Voting underway in five constituencies in Assam: Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Lakhimpur, Tezpur

Voting underway in five constituencies in Uttarakhand: Almora, Garhwal, Hardwar, Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Tehri Garhwal

Google marks beginning of Lok Sabha poll with a doodle

Google on Thursday marked the beginning of first phase of Lok Sabha poll in India with a doodle. The Google doodle shows an inked finger and when a user clicks on the inked finger then the user lands on a page that explains the voting procedure. The page contains several information which are very helpful for first-time voters.