Moderate to brisk polling has been reported in all the 121 Constituencies spread over 12 States where voting is taking place today for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections. Polling began at 7 A.M. in all the constituencies and will continue upto 6 P.M. except in some Naxal affected areas where it will end at 4 P.M.

The constituencies are all 28 in Karnataka, 20 in Rajasthan, 19 in Maharashtra, 11 each in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, 10 in Madhya Pradesh, 7 in Bihar, 6 in Jharkhand, 4 in West Bengal, 3 in Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.

In West Bengal, 62 percent polling has been recorded in the 4 Parliamentary constituencies of Darjeeling, Jalpaigudi, Coochbehar and Alipurdur till one p.m. State Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta told AIR that no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere so far. Polling was delayed in some polling booths due to technical snags in the Electronic Voting machines. He said polling is being monitored in sensitive booths through webcasting.

Meanwhile, two left parties polling agents were hospitalised in Jalpaigudi district after alleged clashes with TMC supporters. Four poll officials were replaced from duty in Jalpaigudi as they fell sick due due to severe hot weather conditions.

Votisng is also on peacefully for bye election to two Assembly segments in Jalpaigudi district.

In Rajasthan polling is continuing peacefully for 20 lok sabha seats amid tight security. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje cast her vote in Jhalawar and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot at Jodhpur.

Till 1 pm 35 percent polling was reported. Maximum 38 percent polling has been reported from Ganganagar constituency. Our correspondenty reports that the speed of polling was less in early hours. In first 4 hours 29 percent polling was reported but now the speed is increasing and at many polling booths in rural areas people are waiting in ques outside the polling booths.

In northern and western parts of the state weather is pleasant due to yesterday's rain and it is assumed that polling percent will increase than the last loksabha election. Arrangements of shadow,water and ramp have been made at all 38835 polling booths and personnel of paramilitary forces are present at 5942 sensitive polling stations.Polling is going on peacefully and no untoward incident has reported so far.