The Lok Sabha elections began on April 11 and will continue in seven phases. The second phase is taking place today in the states of Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur and others.
Polling is being conducted for 49 seats in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Puducherry.
While EVMs malfunctioned in various states, polling in TN¡¯s Vellore seat had to be cancelled after the recovery of a huge amount of cash from alleged associates of DMK candidate Kathir Anand, the son of DMK treasurer Durai Murugan.
However, all these obstacles didn¡¯t deter the spirit of voters. Young, elderly, disabled even newly married came to cast their vote in the biggest election exercise all around the globe.
Photo:ANI/ Newly-wed couple arrives in J&K's Udhampur district to cast their vote
For instance, in Jammu and Kashmir¡¯s Udhampur district, a bride and groom clad in wedding attire came to vote for their candidate at the polling booth. On the other hand, in Maharashtra a pregnant woman arrived to get her finger inked at polling booth number 164 in Nehru Nagar of Solapur.
In Bihar¡¯s Bhagalpur district, 90-year-old Urmila and Usha were helped by CRPF personnel at the polling booth. In Karnataka also, an elderly couple, 91-year-old Shrinivas and 84-year-old Manjula, cast their votes at a polling booth in Jayanagar of Bangalore South Parliamentary constituency, reported news agency ANI.
In Kathua district, an 80-year-old patient named Jogindero Devi came from the Kathua hospital to elect her representative. In Maharashtra where polling is underway for 10 parliamentary constituencies, a 105-year old Kavaibai Kamble along with her family cast her vote at a polling station in Harangul Budruk in Latur constituency.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also cast her vote at polling booth 54 in Jayanagar of Bangalore South Parliamentary constituency. Whereas, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi also stood in the queue patiently to cast her vote.
The polling will come to an end on May 19 and the counting will be done on May 23.