Lucknow, May 12 (IANS) Brisk balloting took place Monday in Uttar Pradesh's 18 parliamentary seats as a controversy broke out in Varanasi where Congress candidate Ajay Rai walked into a polling station with the party symbol pinned to his kurta.
Polling in 18 parliamentary constituencies is underway peacefully, officials said.
There were complaints of some technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
A large turnout has been reported from most places, a poll panel official said.
On an average 10.38 percent voting has been reported from the 18 constituencies that are balloting Monday.
In Varanasi, from where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narenda Modi is pitted against Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, 18 percent voting was reported till 10 a.m.
A controversy broke out in Varanasi when Ajay Rai, Congress candidate, walked into a polling station to vote with the party symbol tucked on his kurta.
Election law bans the use of any party symbol within 100 metres of the poll station. Officials in the district say the Congress candidate had indeed violated the law.
He was accompanied by his wife and he spoke to reporters within 10 metres of the polling station, which again is a breach of law.
Senior district officials told IANS that the returning officer has sought video footage and that action would follow soon.
At Dumariyaganj, voting till 9 a.m. was 11.56 percent, Maharajganj 11.60 percent, Gorakhpur 11.80 percent and 10.60 percent in Kushinagar.
In Deoria, where BJP's senior leader Kalraj Mishra is contesting the polls, 11.60 percent people have cast their votes till 9 a.m. In Basgaon, the polling percentage in the first two hours was 10.90 percent, 10 percent in Lalganj and 9.20 percent in Ghosi.
In Salempur, the voting percentage was 9 while it was 10.36 percent in Ballia. It was 10.20 percent voter turnout in Jaunpur from where Bhojpuri film star Ravi Kishen is contesting on a Congress ticket.
The slowest polling was recorded from Azamgarh, the seat from where Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is pitted against BJP's Ramakant Yadav.
Today the whole world is celebrating the new year. On this occasion, even in Corona-afflicted Chi
After the budget, PM Narendra Modi addressed the first webinar on green development. In his addre
Workers protest in Gurgaon against labour policies
Gurgaon, Feb 26 (IANS) Members of various trade unions, under the banner of the Trade Union Cou
When young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was selected for the Australia tour, no one had any ide
Delhi Lockdown Begins": Arvind Kejriwal's Message To Residents
दिल्ली में तालाबंदी आज से शुरू हो रही
Windies aim to revive World Cup campaign against Pakistan
Christchurch, Feb 20 (IANS) Two cricket teams considered highly unpredictable and dangerous - W
Team India's picture was a super hit in the final match of Asia Cup 2023. In the title match, Roh
In the capital Delhi and adjoining areas, the weather can again take a turn. Relief from scorchin
Sudhir Naik demise: Former opener of Indian team passed away, cricket world mourned
Sudhir Naik, the former opener of the Indian team and coach of Zaheer Khan, died in a hospital in
Go out and vote: Modi tells youth
New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who is contesting fro