Polling in 64 Lok Sabha constituencies in the penultimate eighth phase of month long elections began at 7. 00 AM today. Spread over 7 states they include 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, 15 in Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Bihar, 6 in West Bengal, 5 in Uttarakhand, 4 in Himachal Pradesh and 2 in Jammu and Kahsmir. Voting in 175 Assembly constituencies in Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh is also taking place simultaneously.

Prominent candidates whose electoral fate would be sealed today include Rahul Gandhi, Beni Prasad Verma, MM Pallam Raju and Mohd Kaif of Congress and Smriti Irani, Varun Gandhi, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Anurag Thakur of BJP. Other prominent leaders in the fray today are Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP, Rabri Devi of RJD and Kumar Vishwas of Aam Aadmi Party.

Election Commission has taken a number of steps to ensure free and fair polling during the last two phases of Lok Sabha polls. These include direction to Presiding officers to use their powers and deploy central foces in polling stations to prevent any untoward incident.

Besides, the sector magistrates, each of whom is in charge of 10 polling stations, the EC has decided to deploy static magistrates in sensitive booths to respond immediately to complaints. Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said the decision to enhance security measures was taken in the wake of large scale complaints and suggestions made by political parties.