Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Phase 3 - what we know so far

The polling began for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections at 7 am in various states across the country. According to the officials, 2.10 lakh booths are being set up for 18.56 crore voters eligible for voting.

In today's Lok Sabha elections the fight to win will be for 116 seats allocated as follows: Gujarat-26, Kerala-20, Maharashtra-14, Karnataka-14, UP-10, Chhattisgarh-7, Odisha-6, Bihar-5, West Bengal-5, Assam-4, Goa-2, Tripura-1, Dadra & Nagar Haveli-1, and Daman & Diu-1.

The fates of important candidates, such as BJP's Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, SP's Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri and Rahul Gandhi from Congress, contesting from Wayanad, will be sealed today.

Out of the 116 seats that will vote today, the BJP holds 62 and the Congress holds 16. In Maharashtra, the Nationalist Congress Party's Supriya Sule along with her family casts her vote a polling station in Baramati. Moreover, she is sitting MP and NCP MP Candidate from Baramati. Social activist Anna Hazare had casted his vote in Ralegan Siddhi, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.

In Goa, the polling reportedly was delayed in some booths as preparations were still underway by election officers past the time to begin voting for two Lok Sabha and three by polls seats, where 11.35 lakh are to cast their votes.

In Kerala, polling began in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies. According to the officials, polling had been delayed in more than 60 polling stations in Kerala due to different issues. Nevertheless, problems have been solved, said officials. Moreover, there were reports of officials repairing faulty EVM at Kongarpilly Higher Secondary School in Ernakulam, Kerala.

In big news, PM Narendra Modi casted his vote at a polling booth in Ranip, Ahmedabad and, PM Modi's mother, Heeraben Modi casted her vote at a polling station in Raisan, Ahmedabad.

BJP President Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah had casted their votes at polling booth in Naranpura Sub-Zonal office in Ahmedabad. "Your every vote can take the country forward, it can secure the country and it can lead the nation on the path of development," said Amit Shah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time, from Gandhinagar seat in Gujarat.

Voter turnout in big numbers in Patidar dominated area of Rajkot, Gujarat. Celebrities like cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara exercised his franchise in Rajkot. And Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and wife Anjali had also casted their vote at a polling booth in Anil Gyan Mandir school in Rajkot.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife had casted their votes in Guwahati for Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency. There were even reports of a 39-year-old woman, who dies after casting her vote at a polling station in Mangaldai constituency in Assam.

The ECI has setup 12,128 polling stations which consist of 20,120 polling booths in Uttar Pradesh. DC Deepa Cholan and her husband NWKRTC MD Rajendra Cholan showed their inked fingers. "Polling is going on smoothly in all 1,872 booths in Dharwad district, Karnataka," said Deepa Cholan.

The polling percentage recorded till 9 AM are as follows: Assam-12.36%, Bihar-12.60%,Goa-2.29%,Guj-1.35%, J&K-0.00%, K'taka-1.75%, Kerala-2.48%, M'rashtra-0.99%, Odisha-1.32%, Tripura-1.56%, UP-6.84%, WB-10.97%, Chhattisgarh-2.24%, Dadra&Nagar Haveli-0.00%, Daman& Diu-5.83%.