Fifty percent polling has been reported in Kerala. Brisk polling is on in all the 20 Parliamentary constituencies of the State.This is for the first time in the history of the State that 50 percent polling has taken place by noon. Enthusiasm among young voters was quite visible,across the State.

50 polling was recorded in Kannur parliamentary constituency, followed by Kasargod, Chalakkudy and Alappuzha, which recorded 48 per cent each. Vadakara recorded 47 per cent.

269 candidates are in the fray, of which 27 are women. The voting has been peaceful and no major untoward incident has been reported so far.

Polling is at a slow pace in Chhattisgarh’s tribal Bastar Lok Sabha constituency. Nearly 30 per cent of about 13 lakh voters have exercised their franchise. Polling in seven out of eight assembly segments will end at 3 PM, while, in Jagdalpur assembly segment polling will end at 4 PM.

Our correspondent reports that in tribal Bastar lok sabha constituency, Maoists have opened random fire near half a dozen polling stations in Narayanpur, Sukma, Bastar and Dantewada districts. However, there is no casualty and polling remained uninterrupted. Tight security arrangements are in place at the polling stations.

In Chitrakot, Jagdalpur and Kondagaon assembly segments , moderate polling is taking place while low voter turnout is witnessed in Maoist affected Sukma, Narayanpur and Bijapur assembly segments.