By elections 2018 updates: 55% voting recorded in Bihar's Jokihat; officials say polling took place peacefully

BIHAR: About 55 percent voting recorded in Jokihat

Voting in the by-election to Jokihat Assembly seat in Bihar passed off peacefully on Monday with nearly 55 percent polling, officials said.

“It passed off peacefully barring some group clashes between supporters of rival candidates. Nearly 55 percent votes were cast amid tight security,” said a police official. – IANS

High turnout in Jharkhand Assembly bypolls

A high turnout was recorded in bypolls to Jharkhand’s Silli and Gomia Assembly constituencies on Monday, officials said. The polling began at 7 am and ended at 3 pm amid tight security arrangements in 278 polling booths in Silli and 342 in Gomia. Polling was by and large peaceful, while reports of snags in the EVMs were received from a few places. – IANS

KERALA: Chengannur records 74.5% voter turnout till 5 pm

Input by Hareesh/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: EVMs from Silli get deposited in strong room in Krishi Bazaar

EVMs from Silli polling are being deposited in the strong room in Krishi Bazaar. They will be opened again on 31 May, the day of counting.

Input by Priyadarshini Shrivatsava/101Reporters

WEST BENGAL: Voters standing in queues in Maheshtala can vote

According the Election Commission schedule, voting was stopped at 6 pm. However, some voters are still lined up in a few booths. Those who have been in the line before 6, can cast their votes.

Over 50 complaints have been registered by political parties and voters in the whole day. However, the EC termed the complaints as baseless.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters.

PUNJAB: About 73 percent polling recorded till 6 pm in Shahkot

About 73 percent polling was recorded till 6 pm in Shahkot. However, final figure will only be available by 7 pm as some voters are still waiting in lines to cast their ballot.

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

UTTAR PRADESH: Mriganka Singh alleges ‘massive technical snag’ in EVMs

Mriganka Singh, BJP Candidate from Kairana, told ANI that there was a massive technical snag in the EVMs and a complete breakdown of systems. “My supporters went back without voting as the machines were not working,” she said.

Singh also claimed that her party leaders have approached the Election Commission regarding the matter

WEST BENGAL: Voter turn out in Maheshtala recorded at 70.01% till 5 pm

The voter turn out in Maheshtala was recorded at 70.01 percent till 5 pm. As many as 36 EVMs had to be replaced in the day. Apart from that, the voting was largely peaceful.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

BJP leaders meet EC officials over reports of EVM malfunctioning

BJP’s Arun Singh told ANI that the party has demanded repolling at a few stations. BJP also told the Election Commission that they received information that EVMs either worked late or had some issues.

BJP delegation met EC officials in Delhi over reports of malfunctioning in EVMs during by-polls today.BJP's Arun Singh says,'we told them that we received info that EVMs worked either late or with some issues or didn't work at all in 197 booths,demanded repolling at few stations' pic.twitter.com/gpq1CaHSZ7

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

PUNJAB: Shahkot records 69 percent polling till 5 pm

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya confident of win

Speaking to the press, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya expressed confidence that JMM will win both bypolls with a margin of at least 50,000 votes. He also accused the chief minister of trying to lure voters with money on election day and has urged the Election Commission to look into the matter.

He specifically pointed to Gomia where he said a candidate was using money power to win over voters, even going as far as transporting money in an ambulance.

Input by Priyadarshini Shrivatsava/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Silli records 75.5 percent polling

Silli recorded 75.5 percent polling, the district headquarters confirmed

Input by Deb Banerjee/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Silli registers around 72% polling till 3 pm

Silli registered around 72 percent polling till 3 pm. Final figures may vary after compilation of data.

Input by Deb Banerjee/101Reporters

MAHARASHTRA: Shiv Sena, NCP express reservations on EVMs

 The Shiv Sena and the NCP alleged malfunctioning in EVMs during bypolls for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Former Union minister Praful Patel claimed that almost 25 percent of EVMs malfunctioned in the bypoll to Bhandara- Gondiya, while Sena leader Sanjay Raut said those in power were contesting elections while keeping the “key and remote of EVMs in their hands”.

MEGHALAYA: Voter turnout reaches 88.58 percent in Ampati by 5 pm

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

UTTAR PRADESH: Over 43 percent polling till 4 pm in Kairana and 47 percent in Noorpur

Over 43 percent polling was recorded till 4 pm in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency while 47 percent votes were polled in the Noorpur Assembly constituency amid complaints of EVMs malfunctioning.

Amid complaints of EVM malfunctioning, the EC assured that faulty machines were being changed and a re-poll would be ordered, wherever necessary. – PTI

BIHAR: 48 percent voting recorded till 4 pm in Jokihat

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

MEGHALAYA: 85% voting recorded in Ampati till 4 pm

According to News18, 85.01 percent voting was recoded in Meghalaya’s Ampati till 4 pm

UTTAR PRADESH: Visuals from booth 173 in Shamli after clash between BJP, Opposition

According to reports, villagers in Shamli resorted to stone pelting on the police for ‘fake voting’. The police responded with lathicharge at voters in booth no. 173 in Shamli, after a clash between BJP and the Opposition.

Input by Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

Samajwadi Party asks EC to conduct repolling where over 1 and a half hours were wasted

Samajwadi Party leaders met Election Commission officials over the bypolls in Kairana and Noorpur. Ram Gopal Yadav said that the party asked the Election Commission to conduct repolling in places where over one and a half hours were wasted.

We demanded from EC, re-polling in places where more than 1 & a half hours were wasted & extra time after 6 pm for voters in places where less time was wasted so that they can vote: RG Yadav, SP after multi-party delegation met Election Commission over by-polls in Kairana&Noorpur pic.twitter.com/TcsUS5ItsY

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

JHARKHAND: Polling in Gomia gets over

The Election Commission had declared that polling would conclude at 3 pm in Naxal-affected Gomia Assembly constituency. Officials have sealed the EVMs and are transporting it.

Input by Priyadarshini Shrivatsava/101Reporters

EC says reports of large-scale EVM failure ’exaggerated’

The Election Commission termed as “exaggerated projection of reality” reports of ’large scale’ failure of EVMs during Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Amid reports of faulty EVMs from various polling stations, the Commission came out with a statement to deny that the failure of the voting machines was unusual.

“… the Commission allocates sufficient reserve of EVMs and VVPATs for every general and by election to the Lok Sabha or state Assembly. It is pertinent to mention that during commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs, apart from EVMs and VVPATs required for deployment at every polling station, adequate number of reserve EVMs and VVPATs (around 20-25 percent) are prepared to replace any defective machine on poll day at the polling station,” it said. – PTI

WEST BENGAL: Voter turnout recorded at 67% till 3 pm in Maheshtala

The voter turn out in Maheshtala was recorded at 67 percent till 3 pm.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

Why were EVMs for Maharashtra polls brought from Surat, asks Praful Patel

Former Union minister Praful Patel sought to know why EVMs from Surat in Gujarat were used in the Bhandara-Gondiya bypoll when similar machines were available in Maharashtra.

“EVMs were available in Maharashtra. What was the reason for bringing EVMs from Surat in Gujarat. We have expressed our doubts to the Election Commission,” Patel told reporters.

KARNATAKA: 41% votes polled till 3 pm in Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru

The Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru in Karnatata recorded 41 percent voting by 3 pm.

KARNATAKA: Moderate voting in Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru

Moderate polling has been recorded in the Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency amid tight security, an official said on Monday.

“Over 35 percent voting has been registered in all 471 polling stations across the constituency till 2 pm. Polling has been peaceful barring glitches in a few EVMs which were soon rectified,” Returning Officer S Shailaja told IANS.

PUNJAB: Shahkot records 44% voting till 1 pm

Over 40 percent polling was recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency of Punjab. “44 percent polling has been recorded till 1 pm in Shahkot Assembly constituency,” Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju told PTI.

There was no report of any violence from anywhere in the constituency. “The polling has been peaceful,” the Punjab CEO said.

Akhilesh Yadav to hold press conference at 6 pm

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has called for a press conference at 6 pm today, according to News18. He is expected to talk about the Kairana and Noorpur bypolls.

MAHARASHTRA: 21% voting till 3 pm in Palghar

According to News18, 21 percent voting was recorded till 3 pm in Palghar.

MEGHALAYA: Mukul Sangma casts vote at Chengkompara polling station

Mukul Sangma, Congress MLA Dikkanchi D Shira and Congress candidate for Ampati, Miani D Shira, after casting their votes at Chengkompara polling station.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

BIHAR: No votes cast in four polling booths in Chaukta

Despite appeals, voters boycotting the polls remained firm in Jokihat’s Chaukta village. No votes were cast in four polling booths.

Input by Priyadarshini Shrivatsava/101Reporters

BIHAR: 45 percent voting in Jokihat till 2 pm

Jokihat recorded a polling percentage of 45 percent as of 2 pm

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

MAHARASHTRA: EC says no cancellation in Bhandara-Gondiya

The Election Commission clarified that that there were no cancellations in Bhandara-Gondiya, according to News18. Earlier, there were reports that polling was cancelled in at least 35 polling stations after serious malfunctioning in the VVPAT EVMs,

“The reports emerging in some quarters about EVMs failing in 25 percent polling booths are also incorrect. It is clarified that voting has not been cancelled in any booth in 11 Bhandara-Gondiya stations and voting is continuing smoothly after necessary replacements, whereever required,” the EC said, according to News18.

UTTAR PRADESH: RLD, SP to demand deadline extension, repolling

RLD sources told CNN-News18 that the Opposition will demand extension of voting deadline following multiple reports of EVMs malfunctioning in the Kairana and Noorpur. They might also demand re-polling, the channel said. Leaders from both parties are set to meet EC officials at 3.15 pm, as per reports.

JHARKHAND: Voting peaceful in Naxal-affected Gomia 

News of peaceful voting across the Naxal-affected Gomia Assembly constituency has encouraged more voters to participate enthusiastically in the elections. With the heat the being the only thing to brave, men and women stood in long lines here in order to exercise their franchise. Security arrangements had been beefed up in these Naxal-affected areas.

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Webcasting screen grabs from Silli constituency

EC officials in Silli constituency arranged for webcasting of polls from 28 booths.

Input by Dev Banerjee/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Dozen voters injured in BJP, JMM clash in Gomia

About half a dozen voters have been injured in a clash between BJP and JMM cadres near a Jhirki polling booth in Gomia constituency.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

UTTAR PRADESH: Police lathicharge voters following clash between BJP, Opposition

According to reports, villagers in Shamli resorted to stone pelting on the police for ‘fake voting’. The police responded with lathicharge at voters in booth no. 173 in Shamli, after a clash between BJP and the Opposition. 

Hundreds of villagers in Bhura also attacked a polling booth. 

Input by Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: SSP conducts inspection of Silli polling station

Senior Superintendent of Police conducts an inspection of a polling station in Silli. He has been checking on various polling stations in the constituency since Monday morning to ensure peaceful polling. Here, he is talking to one of the voters there who told him he hadn’t faced any trouble casting his vote and everything had gone smoothly.

Input by Ganesh Prasad/101Reporters

MAHARASHTRA: No complaints in Palghar after 12 pm, says EC

Following reports of multiple EVMs malfuncitoning across booths in Palghar, Returning Officer Prashant Narnaware said that no fresh complaints were registered in the constituency after 12 pm. “Encountered problems and panic in the initial hours. Nothing has happened after 12 pm. The new machines are working properly. We are in consultation with Central Election Commission about extension of voting time,” he said. 

Encountered problems & panic in the initial hours. Nothing has happened after 12 pm. The new machines are working properly. We are in consultation with Central Election Commission about extension of voting time: Dr Prashant Narnaware, Returning Officer on #Palghar by-poll pic.twitter.com/GKp9fcWOfR

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

UTTAR PRADESH: 30.61 percent polling in Kairana till 1 pm 

In Kairana, 30.61 percent voter turnout was registered till 1 pm, amid multiple complaints of faulty EVMs and VVPATs, reported News18.

BIHAR: RLD workers complain EVM malfunctioning at booth 258 in Kandhla

RLD workers complained that EVMs were not working at booth number 258 in Kandhla since Monday morning.

Input by Sarfaraz Ali/101Reporters

MAHARASHTRA: 19.25 percent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Palghar

Amid faulty EVMs and VVPATs, Palghar registered a voter turnout of 19.25 percent till 1 pm, reported  ANI.

BIHAR: Men on motorcycles ambushed car, hurled racial slurs, says Jan Adhikar Party’s candidate for Jokihat

Jan Adhikar Party’s candidate for Jokihat, Gaushal Azam, who was reportedly attacked on Monday said that men on two motorcycles ambushed his car when it slowed down, subjecting him to physical attacks and racist slurs. 

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

KERALA:  48.1 percent polling recorded in Chengannur till 1 pm

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

RLD chief, Samajawadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav to meet EC officials at 3.15 pm 

Following reports of faulty EVMs in Kairana and Noorpur in Uttar Pradesh, RLD chief Ajit Singh and Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav will meet EC officials at 3.15 pm, reported CNN-News18.

In European nations, election commissions have gone back to paper ballots, says Praful Patel

“EVMs are malfunctioning in Bhandara-Gondiya poll. In many big European nations, election commissions have rejected the EVMs and gone back to ballot paper system. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav ji just called me up and he also said 300 EVMs not working in Kairana bypoll,” said NCP Praful Patel.

EVMs malfunctioning in Bhandara-Gondiya poll. In many big European nations, election commissions have rejected the EVMs and gone back to ballot paper system. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav ji just called me up,he also said 300 EVMs not working in Kairana bypoll: Praful Patel,NCP pic.twitter.com/M8mOsOHNIt

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

KARNATAKA: 34 percent voting in RR Nagar till 1 pm

RR Nagar in Bengaluru recorded 34 percent polling till 1 pm.

WEST BENGAL: Congress leader Kamalesh Sarkar detained in Maheshtala

Police detained Congres leader Kamalesh Sarkar for security measures in Maheshtala.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Security personnel helps elderly woman vote in scorching heat in Gomia

A securityman supports an elderly woman who came to exercise her franchise in a polling booth at Gomia. She was alone and finding difficult to stand in queue in the scorching heat.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: 51 percent voting recorded till 1 pm in Gomia

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

EVM, VVPAT malfunctioning indicate EC’s failure, says Shiv Sena

“Technical problems in EVMs and VVPATs clearly indicate failure of EC.If this is the situation in bypolls, think about upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We’ve said it again and again, and other parties have also agreed, that elections should be conducted using ballot papers,” said Shiv Sena leader Anil Desai.

Technical problems in EVMs&VVPATs clearly indicate failure of EC.If this is the situation in by-polls, think about coming Lok Sabha Elections. We've said it again & again & other parties have also agreed,that elections should be conducted using ballot papers:Anil Desai, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/bpaoLJALw5

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

PUNJAB: Congress, Akali worker clash in Mehatpur, Shahkot

Clash between Congress and Akali workers in Mehatpur area of Shahkot constituency. Some people received minor injuries. Akali supporters allege that police is shielding Congress supporters.

Input by Jagjit Dhanju/ 101Reporters

MEGHALAYA: 63.35 percent polling in Ampati till 1 pm

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

PUNJAB: 44 percent voter turnout till 1 pm in Shahkot

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

WEST BENGAL: Came to vote despite being sick, says voter in Maheshtala

Maria Bibi (extreme right), accompanied by her daughter, came to vote despite being sick for the past one week. “I have high fever. Still I came to vote. How can I miss it?”

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

UTTAR PRADESH: Trying to replace as many faulty VVPAT machines as possible, says Saharanpur DM

“The EVMs are fine but the VVPAT machines are malfunctioning. We have rushed engineers to the spot and are trying to replace the faulty machines as much as possible,” said Saharanpur District Magistrate PK Pandey on faulty EVM and VVPAT machines.  

Input by Sachin Johri/101Reporters 

UTTAR PRADESH: Police detains ex-MP from Samajwadi Party in Noorpur

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vishwajeet Srivastava  detained Nagina’s former MP Yashvir Singh of the Samajwadi Party for allegedly transporting voters to the booth in his private care. The car used did not have a valid car pass. He has been detained along with his supporters and might be released after voting is over in Noorpur. 

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

BIHAR:  Jan Adhikar Party candidate for Jokihat reportedly attacked; FIR registered

Jan Adhikar Party’s candidate for Jokihat, Gaushul Azam, was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants who ripped off his clothes and broke the windows of the car he was travelling in. An FIR has been registered.

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

BIHAR: 36 percent voting in Jokihat till 12 pm

Jokihat recoded recorded a polling percentage of 36 percent as of noon.

Input by Santosh Kumar/101Reporters

JHARKHAND: Gomia records 30 percent voting till 11 am

Gomia recorded 30 percent voter turnout till 11 am. The voting percentage is increasing in village areas.

Input by Divya Khare/101 Reporters

JHARKHAND: First-time contestant AJSU candidate Lambodar Mahto casts his vote in Gomia

AJSU contestant, Lambodar Mahto, votes in booth number 339 in Kotogada in Gomia. Mahto, a former Jharkhand Civil Service Officer, has participated in contest taking voluntary retirement from the post of ADM in state water resource department. This is the first time he is fighting an election.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

UTTAR PRADESH: VVPAT machines malfunctioning due to high temperatures, says district magistrate

Follow reports of EVM malfunction came to light in Kairana and Noorpur, District Magistrate Indra Kumar Singh said, “Due to high temperature, VVPAT machines’ sensor is developing a glitch. We are getting real time complaints and we are resolving the issue within 15 minutes. Each issue is being resolved within 15 minutes as officers are there at every centre.” However, Singh did not answer if the voting timings will be extended, reported News18.

KAIRANA: Polling stopped in two booths in Shamli due to EVM glitches

Polling was stopped at booth no. 216 and 217 in Shamli district’s Bhabhisa village after it was reported that EVMs were not working since 10 am, reported News18.

MAHARASHTRA: Polling suspended in 35 booths in Bhandara-Gondiya after reports of EVM malfunctioning

According to ANI, voting has been temporarily suspended at 35 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondiya after EVM malfunctioning was reported, said Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate.

WEST BENGAL: Wish I could vote, but registered booth is far aways, says auto driver in Maheshtala

Samir Jana, an auto driver (who didn’t wish to be photographed) said, “I wish I could vote but my registered booth is far away from here. Almost 10 kilometrea. Going there, standing in line for vote and then coming back to my regular route of auto will take more than half of the day. If I spend that much time, I will lose out on half a day’s earning and I cannot afford that.”

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

BIHAR: Deserted polling booths in Chaukta

Voters boycotted polls after several EVM machines turned out to be faulty. Visuals of one such deserted polling booth in Chaukta.

Input by Abinesh Kumar Singh/101Reporters

Maheshtala voters confident that polling will be peaceful 

Misbauddin Khan, a daily wage labourer, cast his vote in West Bengal’s Maheshtala and said, ​"I was not afraid to vote. I knew there would be no violence here. Maheshtala is peaceful. I have never heard of any violence in Maheshtala and even today I didn’t face anything."

Inputs: Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters.

MEGHALAYA: 42.85% polling registered in Ampati

As of 11 am, polling in the constituency has been registered at 42.85 percent. (In the image: A voter with disablity casts her vote in Meghalaya’s Ampati)

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

KARNATAKA:  21% votes polled till 11 am in  Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru

More than 1,000 voters exercised their franchise at Govt Higher Primary School polling booth situated at BEML Layout in Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru. According to K Narayana, a booth committee member of BJP, over 20 percent of votes polled till 10.30 am. Election Commission confirms that the polling percentage stands at 21% as of 11 am.

Input by Y Maheshwara Reddy/101Reporters

JOKIHAT

WATCH: They implicate me every elections, says JD(U)’s candidate

JD(U) candidate for Jokihat, Murshid Alam spoke to reporters after casting his vote and refuted allegations against him, saying that every time he fights elections, he is implicated. In fact, none of the other contestants from the constituency have a clean record, he said.

Input by Abhinesh Kumar Singh

KAIRANA, NOORPUR: Samajwadi Party writes letter to EC, alleges EVMs being tampered with at Centre’s direction

Following multiple reports of EVM malfunctioning and glitches in Kairana and Noorpur, the Samajwadi Party wrote a letter to the Election Commission claiming that that the EVMs are being tampered with at the direction of the Centre on such a large scale. The party also alleged that the faults were reported from booths where Samajwadi and allied parties’ voters went. 

Input from Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

Voting stalled over two hours in Saharanpur Ambheta

Voting at a booth in Saharanpur Ambheta has been halted for two hours due to of a faulty EVM, even as people continue to queue up in scorching heat, reported News18.

Image courtesy: News18

BJP behind EVM malfunctioning, says Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut

“No question of alliance. Let Amit Shah say anything. We are done with BJP. They are distributing money, switching off EVM machines. Earlier, people used to capture booths. Today, they have the keys of the EVM machines in their hands. Election Commission is under tremendous pressure from the government. Returning Officer fears for his job, and refuses to take cognizance of money distribution and other ill-practices by BJP,” said Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, as per News18.

JOKIHAT: RJD candidate Shahnawaz Alam accuses administration of abusing voters

RJD candidate in Jokihat, Shahnawaz Alam, accuses the administration of harassing and abusing voters through the security personnel stationed there.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

JOKIHAT: 2,600 voters boycotting bypolls 

Mohammed Salim, a resident of Chaukta, says that 2,600 voters across four polling booths are boycotting these elections. A promise to rebuild a bridge connecting Chaukta to its neighbours has not been met in four years, inconveniencing villagers here who have to take a detour that adds 4.5 kilometres to their commute, he says.

Input by Ganesh Prasad/101Reporters

GOMIA: Probe on over JMM candidate Babita Devi distributing money to lure voters

An ambulance having the name printed of former JMM, MLA, Yogender Mahto has been seized in Gomia. The administration had taken immediate action after a complaint that JMM candidate and wife of Mahto, Babita Devi wasdistributing money to voters to lure them. The investigation is on. The incident occurred in Kasmar.

By Divya Khare/101Reporters

GOMIA: EVMs in Jharkhand to feature photos of candidates for first time

In this booth in Gomia, people are keen to see photos of their candidates on their EVM. For the first time in Jharkhand, EVMs will feature photographs of the candidates, making it easier for voters to recognise who they are voting for.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

KAIRANA: EVM malfunctioning in Dalit-Muslim dominated areas, says RLD candidate Tabassum Hassan

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

BHANDARA-GONDIYA: Voters from 34 villages boycott bypolls

34 villages in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency have boycotted the polls. The 50,000-odd voters affected by Gosikhurd irrigation project, are upset that their demands haven’t been met with for years now, reported News18.

MAHESHTALA: EVMs taking time to register votes, claim voters

Despite Election Commission’s reassurance, voters from Maheshtala college informed the authorities that the machines were taking time to register anyone’s vote.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101 Reporters

RR NAGAR: JD(S) candidate GH Ramachandra casts his vote

Janata Dal (Secular) candidate GH Ramachandra is seen with his supporters near the polling booth situated at Raja Rajeswari Vidya School at RR Nagar constituency in Bengaluru.

Input by Y Maheshwara Reddy/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Akhilesh Yadav urges people to vote despite faulty EVMs

Former Uttar Pradeh chief minister urged voters to exercise their franchise amidst reports of faulty EVM machines in the state. 

उप चुनाव में जगह-जगह से EVM मशीन के ख़राब होने की ख़बरें आ रही हैं, लेकिन फिर भी अपने मताधिकार के लिए ज़रूर जाएँ और अपना कर्तव्य निभाएँ.

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 28, 2018

JOKIHAT: ‘No roads, no votes’

“No roads, no votes,” chant the residents of Chaukta village in Jokihat where polling is being boycotted.

Input by Ganesh Prasad/101Reporters

SILLI: 18.22 percent polling recorded in first two hours of voting

Input by Jaideep Shadilya/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: 15.5 percent voter turnout registered till 9 am

Voter turnout was recorded at 15.15 percent till 9 am in Maheshtala, West Bengal. The Election Commission also informed that all the faulty EVMs have been replaced and the voting is underway smoothly. 

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

AMPATI: Voter turnout at 23.73% till 10 am

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

GOMIA: Elderly couple skip breakfast to vote

An elderly couple voted in booth number 70 of Gomia. For them, voting is their right and the couple came to exercise their franchise, skipping their breakfast. “We have decided to vote first and than have our breakfast,” they said.

Input by Jaideep D/101Reporters

SILLI: Former MLA Amit Mahto casts vote

Input by Jaideep Deogarhiya/101Reporters

RR NAGAR: 11 percent turnout till 9 am

In RR Nagar, polling continues peacefully with 121 out of 421 polling station under live webcast. As of 9 am, the voter turnout was at 11 percent.

NOORPUR, KAIRANA: Faulty EVMs have been tampered with, says SP leader Rajendra Chaudhary 

“There are reports that in Noorpur 140 EVMs are faulty, which is because they’ve been tampered. There are similar reports from Kairana. They (BJP) want to avenge defeat in Phulpur and Gorakhpur, which is why they want to defeat us at any cost,” says Rajendra Chaudhary from the Samajwadi Party.

“At least 130 EVMs in Kairana have also malfunctioned. Samajwadi Party has also complained to the Election Commission regarding the malfunctioning of EVM machines,” he added. 

He said that the BJP government was trying to revenge their defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur. “This is a conspiracy in wake of 2019 Lok Sabha polls to give a message that the wave was in their (BJP) favor” said Chaudhary.

With inputs from Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

There are reports that in #Noorpur 140 EVMs are faulty, which is because they've been tampered, there are similar reports from #Kairana. They (BJP) want to avenge defeat in Phulpur & Gorakhpur, which is why they want to defeat us at any cost : Rajendra Chaudhary, Samajwadi Party pic.twitter.com/0FqfZEG8vl

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

CHENGANNUR: Heavy rains during voting

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

GOMIA: Physically challenged voter cast his vote at booth number 88

KAIRANA: RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan writes to EC over faulty EVMs, says no action despite several complaints

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate  from Kairana Tabassum Hasan has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) complaining about the multiple faulty EVMs in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency booths and said that voters are being kept away from voting which is not fair. Tabassum, in the letter, also said that despite several complaints, no action has been taken on the matter yet.

KAIRANA: EVMs being tampered with everywhere, says RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan

Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate for Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll, cast her vote and said that EVMs were being tampered with everywhere. “machines are being tampered everywhere, faulty machines haven’t been replaced in Muslim and Dalit dominated areas. They (BJP) think they can win polls like this.That won’t happen,” she said. 

Tabassum Hasan, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate for #Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll, casts her vote; says, 'machines are being tampered everywhere, faulty machines haven't been replaced in Muslim&Dalit dominated areas. They (BJP) think they can win polls like this.That won't happen' pic.twitter.com/1jyBDTmtKZ

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

PALGHAR: Instead of index fingers, middle fingers of voters being inked

According to ANI, some voters in Maharashtra’s Palghar were marked on their middle fingers, instead of index fingers. This is was done to differentiate as panchayat polls had also recently taken place in some parts of Palghar on Sunday.  

#Palghar Lok Sabha by-poll: Instead of index fingers, middle fingers of some voters are being inked by officials to differentiate between them, as Panchayat elections were held in some parts of Palghar yesterday. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/hbTK1wvLpL

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

GOMIA: Compared to Silli, Gomia witnesses lower voter turnout till 9 am

In comparison to Silli, the Gomia constituency saw relatively lower turnout of voters in the first two hours. While Silli recorded 18.22 percent, Gomia witnessed only 14 percent voting, revised from an earlier estimate of 9 percent.

Of the two constituencies, Gomia is more keenly contested by political parties who took out huge rallies here. Even the chief minister camped in Gomia for three consecutive days seeking votes in support of the BJP candidate Madhavlal Singh. JMM chief Shibu Soren and former chief minister, Hemant Soren were some of the leaders, along with Congress and left parties leaders who had done extensive campaigning here. The fight here is a triangular one between Singh, JMM contestant Babita Devi and AJSU, Lambodar Mahto.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

JOKIHAT: 18 percent polling registered till 10 am

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

JOKIHAT: Home guards, paramilitary personnel deployed at booths, says Araria SP 

Araria’s Superintendent of Police, Dhurat Sayali Savalaram, talks about the security arrangements for the Jokihat by-polls. “We have deployed maximum force consisting of home guard, paramilitary and Bihar Military Police at the booths to curb bogus voting and enforce model code of coding,” she says.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

CHENGANNUR: Visual of a women-friendly station

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

BHANDARA-GONDIYA: Eleven faulty EVMs reported

Maharashtra: 11 faulty EVMs reported across polling booths in Gondiya & Bhandara Lok Sabha constituencies

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

GOMIA: Voting yet to begin at multiple booths

In Gomia, voting has not begun at booth no. 165 due to technical difficulties. Similarly, polling hasn’t commenced in booth no. 47 and in No. 74, as the EVM is not operational yet.

Input by Priyadarshi/101 Reporters

KAIRANA: Voter turnout at 15 percent till 9 am

Polling percentage at 9 am stood around 15 percent in Kairana:

Kairana- 9 precent
Shamli –  8.5 percent 
Thana Bhawan – 14 percent 

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

JOKIHAT: Voters boycott bypolls over poor infrastructure

Four booths in Jokihat’s Mahalgaon — 215, 215A, 216 and 216C — saw incidents of poll boycott by its constituents. Sub-Divisional police officer KD Singh reached there to pacify voters but they remained firm in their decision, pointing at the infrastructural neglect of their constituency, particularly the lack of proper roads and bridges.

Input by Priyadarshi/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Fight against buying votes, says TMC candidate Dulal Das

TMC candidate Dulal Das, after registering his vote said that, “Maheshtala didn’t see any violence today. We heard of violence everywhere in West Bengal during panchayat polls but there was no violence here. Our fight is against buying votes. We heard some party tried sending money to wards but they were not successful. We are against both CPM and BJP but it’s best that a communal party doesn’t come to power.” 

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

NOORPUR: Polling at 9 percent till 9 am

Uttar Pradesh’s Noorpur Assembly constituency recorded a voter turnout of 9 percent in the first two hours.

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

NOORPUR: Polling at 9 percent till 9 am

Uttar Pradesh’s Noorpur Assembly constituency recorded a voter turnout of 9 percent in the first two hours.

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

NOORPUR: Engineer rushed to fix EVM, VVPAT machines

Input by Sachin Johri/101Reporters

SILLI: 17 percent voter turnout till 9 am

After the first two hours of polling, Silli registered 17 percent voter turnout overall, with some booths registering in as much as 25 percent.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Five percent polling till 9 am

Five percent voter turnout was registered in Punjab’s Shakot Assembly constituency two hours after polling began.

Input by Kusum Arora/ 101Reporters

GOMIA: Nine percent polling in first two hours

Nine percent polling was registered in Gomia in the first two hours. The polling booths situated in hilly terrain and remote areas saw poor turnout in comparison to booths located near National Highways, Blocks and township area.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

GOMIA, SILLI: Faulty VVPATs in two polling booths each 

According to the Chief Election officer, two polling booths each in Silli and Gomia had problems with the VVPATs which emerged when the mock polls were being conducted. These were fixed and polling continued peacefully.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Late MLA Kasturi Das’ husband Dulal Das contests bypoll

Dulal Das, the TMC candidate, going to register his vote at Netaji Subhash school. Last year, his departed wife and ex-MLA won this very seat by 28,283 votes. Kasturi Das passed away on February 2018 which necessitated the by-election today. Before entering the polling booth, he asked the officials if there were any problem anywhere. He said that if there were, he would himself go to those places and sort everything out.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

NOORPUR: Sugarcane farmers, youth, businessmen tired of BJP’s lies, Samajwadi Party candidate Naim Ull Hasan

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AMPATI: Creche set up in polling station for women voters with children

In a polling station in Ampati, a play area and creche has been set up to ease the concerns of women voters with children.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

AMPATI: Senior citizen voter recognised for being first voter at her polling booth

Input by Krymenlang Uriah/101Reporters

KAIRANA: VVPAT machines stop working in Shamli

VVPAT machines have stopped working at the Hindu Kanya School polling booth in Shamli, Kairana.

Input by Sachin Johri/101Reporters

GOMIA: Bypolls necessitated after arrest and conviction of sitting MLA

Gomia faces by-polls were necessitated due to the arrest and conviction of the sitting MLA Yogendra Prasad Mahto (JMM). He was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment in a coal theft case. His wife Babita Devi is contesting these elections as a JMM candidate.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

SILLI: EC officials give an appreciation certificate to a woman who voted first today

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi casts his vote

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

Meanwhile, Narendra Modi addresses nation via NaMo App while voting takes place across 10 states

While voting is underway for 10 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats across ten states today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun addressing the nation through his NaMo App, listing the schemes the BJP has introduced during its tenure so far. 

This is in stark contrast to how former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was forced to take his app offline in wake of the Model Code of Conduct being enforced before the Karnataka elections. According to The Hindu , Election Commission of India had ordered the removal of all pictures of Siddaramaiah and other Congress ministers from government websites", and could also include “previous posts on social media championing achievements of the government”.

The removal, it claims was as a result of the Model Code of Conduct which was in effect in the state following the announcement of the election dates, and required ministers contesting an election to not use government resources or official media for electioneering.

JOKIHAT: Residents boycott voting 

Residents of booth 215 and 216 boycott voting at Jokihat constituency.

Input by Satish Kumar/101 Reporters

KAIRANA: Hindus back to stay with Muslims after riots in 2013, claims Mriganka

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Earlier in a interview to The Times of India, Mriganka has said that her father’s (Hukum Singh’s) “secular beliefs” have won hearts in the past and that BJP’s win—which she feels is certain—will be another endorsement of Hukum Singh’s legacy, adding that the 2016 migration controversy was “exaggerated by locals.” “I have knowledge of at least three Hindu families which owned shops in Kairana and have returned to run them. Locals exaggerated the number of Hindus who migrated while providing information to my father. This was later clarified in a report by then-UP BJP president Keshav Maurya. My father had a following among both Hindus and Muslims and they will both support us in the byelection,” said Mriganka..

JOKIHAT: Video of CRPF patrolling to maintain law and order

Input by Priyadarshi/101 Reporters

SHAHKOT: Three VVPAT machines replced during mock poll

One Control Unit at booth number 216 and three VVPAT machines at booth numbers 169, 170 and 222 were replaced due to technical snag during a mock poll. Three VVPAT at booth numbers 27, 28 and 132 were replaced during the actual polling.

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

Punjab: Voting underway at a polling booth in Shahkot pic.twitter.com/nWHY9QBH8J

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

AMPATI: Voters line up in Meghalaya

Voters line up at a polling booth in Ampati constituency where former chief minister Mukul Sangma and his wife and legislator Dikkanchi D Shira have been campaigning for their 27-year old daughter Miani Dalbot Shira. Other Congress legislators from Khasi Hills also chipped in during the campaign.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Women voting in Punjab

Women cast their franchise in Shahkot constituency where polling has been going on peacefully so far.

Input by Jagjit Dhanju/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Faulty EVMs replaced 

Faulty EVM machines have been replaced by the Election Commission and the voting restarted. Till now, voting has been peaceful. No news of skirmish has been reported yet.

Five Quick Response Teams have been constituted. Along with that, police patrolling vans are situated everywhere so that there are no chances of violence.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Voters forced to go back due to EVM glitches

With regular break down in almost three EVM machines at booth number 42 at VV Inter College in Sadar Kotwali area, voters were forced to goes back without casting there votes.

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Fight is against money, not ideologies or parties, says CPM candidate Prabhat Pratim

CPM candidate Prabhat Pratim Chaudhury said that, “If the people are able to vote properly today, then there is a chance of change. After the violence in the panchayat election, there should be a change. However, the fight is not against ideologies or parties. The fight is against money. I got news that huge amount of money flowed into many wards yesterday. Hence, the fight is against this money and muscle. I personally don’t believe that I need to be an MLA to be able to work for the people. Win or loss is not the end goal. Fighting for people is and the good feedback I have received from common people in the last 19 days, makes me hopeful of a change.”

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Made headlines during Muzaffarnagar riots

Kairana is a place which was in the headlines a few year ago for reasons known to all. Politically, it is a place where BJP made an easy win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

It was BJP Member of Parliament late Hukum Singh who raised the issue of exodus from Kairana after the bloody riots of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Playing the communal card BJP managed to bag the votes from all walks of life. This includes especially the Jat vote bank. Here, the question arises if the BJP will be able to retain its Jat voters along with its cadre votes of Vaishya, Brahmins, Punjabi’s and the business community.

Input by Kamal Bhargava and Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

KAIRANA: A litmus test for BJP

As Kairana goes for bypolls after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh, it’s a litmus test for the the BJP — both at the Centre and state.

With all parties, especially Rashtriya Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party, coming together to stop the saffron party from bagging another win. However, the Narendra Modi government, which completed four years at the Centre two days ago, has faced all sorts of ups and downs including fuel price hike etc. 

Input by Kamal Bhargava and Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

Voting for #Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll underway; Visuals from a polling booth in Shamli pic.twitter.com/llxd62paO0

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

NOORPUR: Video of voting underway

Video by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

WATCH: Voters exercise their franchise at Seechewal village in Shahkot

Input by Jagjit Dhanju/101Reporters

WATCH: Parties trying to buy Muslim votes in Kairana, says Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan

MAHESHTALA: Security tightened in wake of panchayat poll violence

In the wake of panchayat poll violence, tight security measures have been taken across Maheshtala. Most of the shops are closed around voting booths. The para-military forces are not allowing any party workers to enter the polling stations.

Input from Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

GOMIA: Voting yet to begin in Bokaro booth

Voting has not started at Bokaro booth numbers 292, 111 and 218 due to faulty EVMs after mock test.

Input by Santosh A/101 Reporters

GOMIA: EVM maulfunctioning reported after few minutes of working

EVM stops working at booth number 249 at Daring School in Gomia just after few minutes of voting.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Faulty EVM machines ploy of EC, says TMC candidate’s osn

Subhashish Das, the son of TMC candidate Dulal Das, said that the faulty EVM machines are a ploy of Central Election Commission.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

BHANDARA-GONDIYA: Congress, Shiv Sena not contesting this Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra

Congress and Shiv Sena are both not contesting the Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha seat where the main fight is between Hemant Patle of the BJP and Madhukar Kukde of the NCP. There are also eight Independents and one candidate each from Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, Bahujan Republican Socialist Party, Baliraja Party, Bahujan Mukti Party, Akhil Bharatiya Manavta Paksha, Ambedkarite Party of India, Gondvana Gantantra Party and Vidarbha Maza Party.

#Maharashtra: Voting underway at a polling station for Bhandara Lok Sabha by-poll seat pic.twitter.com/mARHLU5Ypc

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

RR NAGAR: Low voter turnout at polling booth in Jalahalli

Low turnout of voters at polling booth no. 8 situated at Government High School, Jalahalli of Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru. Local Corporator Asha Suresh (Congress) representing HMT ward in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council had campaigned against Congress candidate Munirathna, who also began his political career as a BBMP corporator.

Input by Y Maheswara Reddy/101Reporters

Faulty VVPAT stalls voting in Kairana

#KairanaByPoll Voting stalled at Public Inter College, Kairana due to faulty VVPAT

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

JOKIHAT: Contest between JD(U) and RJD

Part of the Araria Lok Sabha constituency, where RJD registered a thumping win in March this year, Jokihat will be an all-out contest between Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal. There are nine candidates in all including late Taslimuddin’s son Shahnawaz Alam, who is contesting on an RJD ticket, and JD(U) candidate Murshid Alam. Also in the fray is Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) candidate Gousul Azam.

JOKIHAT:  Voting underway in this Bihar Assembly constituency

Voting in Jokihat Assembly seat is in progress. Overall, nine candidates are in fray for this Assembly seat. Jokihat has total 2,70,423 number of voters besides 14 voters falling in ‘Others’ category (read transgenders). According to the administration, 101 booths have been placed under ‘vulnerable’ category and 118 critical booths out of total 331 voting centres.

Input by Priyadarshi Shrivastava/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Replaced EVMs turn out to be faulty

The EVM machines of Netaji Subhash School have been replaced. But the replaced machines also turned out to be faulty again.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: EC trying to replace faulty machines quickly

Problem with EVM machines in Sarengabad, Nungi High School (booth numbers 157 and 202) and Netaji Subhash School. Voting has been stalled. Voters are losing patience in Nungi. Election Commission confirms that they are trying their best to replace the faulty machines quickly.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

AMPATI: Violence in Ampati in the run up to bypolls

In the latest incident of assault during the run-up to the polls, three Congress workers were allegedly beaten up by a group of people in Bollongitok in the constituency in the early hours of Sunday morning. While the NPP claimed the group was beaten up by the villagers to trying to influence them to vote, the Congress claimed the beating was a targeted one.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 am in the village with the three Congress workers receiving minor injuries from the altercation. The beaten people allegedly belonged to the village of Mukdangra.

“They had dinner and were on their way when they were targeted by the workers of the NPP for being Congress workers. The villagers had nothing to do with the assault and it was all the handiwork of the NPP workers. The three were on their way to Mukdangra and were not campaigning at all, nor were they distributing money,” MPYC president, Richard Marak said.

Earlier, on 23 May, party workers of both the NPP and the Congress were involved in a scuffle. The fight erupted after Congress workers stopping a group of NPP workers from campaigning in a village under Betasing which led to frayed tempers and eventually to a fight. One Dharkan Sangma of the Congress was beaten up by a mob.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: EVM glitches stall voting

Problems with EVM machines in Nungi High School and in Netaji Subhash School have forced voting to be paused. Voters are losing their patience in Nungi.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Visuals of voting underway 

West Bengal: Voting underway at a polling booth in Maheshtala for assembly by-poll pic.twitter.com/wTQal8gFd7

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

AMPATI: Election officials at a strong room

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

CHENGANNUR: Polling from 7 am to 6 pm; VVPAT at 164 booths  

Ten polling stations are declared as women-friendly stations. Election Commission has allowed 11 hours for voting from 7am to 6 pm. Five model polling stations will provide assistants to differently-abled persons and senior citizens. The model polling stations are working with the support of National Cadet Corps (NCC). Voter Audit Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) provided at 164 booths to examine the vote by concerned voters at the time of polling. The EC has deputed 15 sectoral  officers with the power of executive magistrate.

The polling of this constituency in Kerala was 74.36 percent during the previous Assembly election.

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

CHENGANNUR: Polling at booth 31-A disrupted due to EVM glitches

Polling for the Chengannur by-election began in 163 polling stations among the 164. Voting at 31-A polling station was disrupted due to the complaints regarding the voting machine. As much as 22 polling stations are under special security due to the report of problems affected. Web cameras have been placed at these polling stations and more police forces have been deployed at the booths.

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Polling affected due to EVM malfunctioning in multiple booths

Affected booths: 

Village Khodsa Booth no. 5, Jhijhana booth no. 58, Babri booth no. 33, Agarwal Dharmshala booth no. 49, Bada Bazar booth centre, Banat booth no. 91, Chausana booth no. 34, Shamli booth no. 17, Jhijhana Rashtriya Siksha Sadan College booth no. 58. 

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: SAD candidate Naib Singh Kohar casts his vote

SAD candidate from Shahkot constituency Naib Singh Kohar casting his vote at Kohar Kalan village.

Input by Kusum Arora/101Reporters

RR NAGAR: Voter turnout slow at this polling booth 

Not many voters turned up at a polling booth situated at Iyer High School on MSR Main Road at Mathikere of Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru, 45 minutes after polling commenced.

Input by Y Maheswara Reddy/101Reporters

AMPATI: Congress, NPP ran highly charged campaigns

During the highly charged campaign in Ampati, both the Congress and the NPP traded charges against each other even as there were reports of sporadic clashes between members of the two parties and poll code violations. The Congress filed a FIR against Home Minister, James K Sangma and his sister and South Tura legislator, Agatha K Sangma, for allegedly violating the model code of conduct and misuse of official power by attempting to buy votes. The NPP also filed a complaint against Dr Sangma for poll code violation, alleging that the opposition leader was campaigning even after the period was over at 4 pm on 26 May.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

AMPATI: Mukul Sangma’s daughter contests from this Meghalaya Assembly seat

Congress candidate Miani D Shira, former chief minister Mukul Sangma’s daughter, is contesting from Ampati, which her father has represented since 1993. Sangma resigned as Ampati MLA to make way for his daughter; he had contested from two seats during the Assembly elections in February – Ampati and Songsak. The National People’s Party, which is supported by the BJP, has renominated Clement G Momin, who came in second here. There is also a third player in the fray, Subhankar Koch an independent.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

NOORPUR: EVM glitches recorded 

The booth number 34 Madarsa Imdad EVM is not working as well as the Banat EVM. The Chausana EVM is also not working. Voting at Kairana’s booth number 43 began after delay of 30 minutes. 

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

RR NAGAR: Kannada actress Vanishree casts her vote

Kannada actress Vanishree at a polling booth situated at Vista Vaibhav Public School in the Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru. Vanishree said she is very happy to cast her vote. “I was waiting to cast my vote on 12 May but came to know about the postponement of the election on 11 May. Now, I came early to cast my vote,” she said.

Input by Y Maheswara Reddy/101Reporters

AMPATI: Six booths classifies as ‘vulnerable’; security forces deployed

Ampati has altogether 39 polling stations, which will be manned by 159 election officials. On Saturday, polling parties for the farthest 21 polling stations were deployed, with the parties for the remaining 18 polling stations moved out of Ampati on Sunday.

Six of these booths have been classified as ‘vulnerable’ due to various reasons including group clashes, inter-state border areas, elephant infestation and remoteness. Four companies of security forces have been deployed in the constituency for election duty. Along with EVMs, 65 VVPATs would be used for the voting and five polling stations are under webcasting. There are altogether 28,699 voters which include 14,317 male and 14,382 female voters.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

CHENGANNUR: Polling delayed due to EVM glitch

Polling yet not started at polling station NO 31-  due to the complaint of voting machine.

Input by Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

AMPATI: Bypoll in this Meghalaya seat could be virtual tie-breaker between Congress, NPP

The by-poll to the Ampati assembly constituency to elect former chief minister, Dr Mukul Sangma’s successor will be held today. With the Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) tied at 20 seats apiece in the Meghalaya Assembly, the by-poll to the Ampati seat is seen as a virtual tie-breaker. While a win for the NPP would put the party, which is currently holding the reign of power in the state, in the driver’s seat, an extra legislator for the Congress would mean that it can push to stake claim to form the government.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Why is this bypoll important for AAP?

The Shahkot election is important for AAP which is desperate for a victory after its failure in Assembly polls last year. Major issues raised by Opposition during the campaign included illegal sand mining and molasses leak from a sugar mill in Gurdaspur district recently. 

nput by Arjun Sharma/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: BSF personnel deployed along with other security personnel

1,022 security forces personnel including six companies of the BSF have been deployed in Shahkot.

Input by Arjun Sharma/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Webcasting at 103 polling stations

As many as 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates who are in the fray in Shahkot constituency. Out of the total 236 polling stations, 136 are vulnerable in the constituency. Webcasting will be held at 103 polling stations. 

Input by Arjun Sharma/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: FIR lodged against Congress candidate previously

Interestingly, an FIR was lodged against Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi for his alleged involvement in illegal sand mining. Parminder Singh Bajwa, SHO who lodged an FIR against Laddi had resigned and cited political pressure to be the cause. the incident brought a major political storm in Punjab and AAP as well as SAD accused Congress of favoring the “wrong”.

Input by Arjun Sharma/101Reporters

SHAHKOT: Assembly seat considered Shiromani Akali Dal bastion in Punjab

Bypoll in the Shahkot Assembly constituency in Jalandhar was triggered due to the death of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Ajit Singh Kohar. His son Naib Singh Kohar has been allotted the ticket by SAD now. The seat is considered to be a bastion of SAD. 

A rich NRI, Rattan Singh Kakkar is the candidate of AAP from the constituency. Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Laddi from the constituency.

Input by Arjun Sharma/101Reporters

PALGHAR: No pre-poll alliance between BJP, Shiv Sena

The BJP and Sena, who are allies in the state and central governments, have refused to form any pre-poll alliance for the by-elections. Sena has fielded the late BJP MP’s son Srinivas Chintaman Vanga from the seat. According to IANS, the Vanga family is miffed with BJP’s leadership, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for ignoring them after the former MP’s death.

#PalgharLoksabhabyelection: People outside a polling booth in Palghar pic.twitter.com/sdbOYadeHj

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

RR NAGAR: Voters wait to verify names ahead in Bengaluru’s RR Nagar Assembly constituency

Voters from the Raja Rajeswari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru on Monday waiting to verify their names with booth committee members at a polling booth near Yeswanthpur Railway Station much before the polling commenced. Despite the Congress-JDS coalition in power, they are not fielding a joint candidate.

RR Nagar is among the four largest Assembly segments in Bengaluru, with over 4.54 lakh voters, out of which 2.16 lakh are women and 65 are from the third gender. When close to 10,000 genuine voter IDs were seized in the city just before the Assembly elections, the EC had said that the number of new electors added in this constituency since last elections was up by 10 percent, higher than the average of six percent across other constituencies.

Input by Y Maheswara Reddy/101Reporters

CHENGANNUR: LDF candidate Saji Cherian arrives to cast his vote

Polling has begun at 164 booths in the Chengannur Assembly constituency. 

Though confident of winning Chengannur, CPM’s Saji Cheriyan is likely to face tough competition from Congress’ D Vijaykumar and BJP’s PS Sreedharan Pillai, as well as candidates from Rashtriya Lok Dal, Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), Aam Aadmi Party, Ambedkarite Party of India and 10 Independent candidates. The Chengannur by-election was necessitated after the death of CPM legislator KK Ramachandran Nair in January. 

With inputs from Hareesh Kumar/101Reporters

Kerala: Saji Cherian, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate for #Chengannur assembly by-poll arrives at SNDP Lower Primary School polling station in Kozhuvalloor village to cast his vote. pic.twitter.com/HP3rZNiAXG

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

MAHESHTALA: Counting to take place at Batanagar High School on Thursday

Scrutiny will be done on Tuesday. If any places need re-election, polls will be conducted on Wednesday. On Thursday, counting will be done at Batanagar High School.  

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

GOMIA: 13 candidates in fray; polling to end at 3 pm

There are 13 contestants in fray and 2.68 lakh voters (1.4 lakhs male and 1.24 lakh females) in Gomia constituency. The polling will end at 3 pm. Bordering areas connecting neighbouring districts Ramgarh and Hazaribagh has been sealed till poll ends.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters 

GOMIA: Voting begins at 341 booths in this Jharkhand Assembly seat

Polling at 341 booths in Gomia began at 7 am. Majority of booths are witnessing good turnout. Gomia has the maximum number of hypersensitive booths in state. Apart from 1,875 polling agents, adequate deployment of paramilitary forces have been done by administration to ensure free and fair bypoll.

Input by Divya Khare/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: Paramilitary forces, state police deployed

Ten companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed. The state police have deployed 700 men for security measures. Every booth will see the presence of paramilitary force and state police. The political workers of any party are barred from entering the booths and a 200-metre radius surrounding the booths. All the centres have VVPAT so that the voters can check whether they have voted for their chosen contestant.

Apart from that a quick response team and Radio Flying team have been constituted as well. They will take immediate measures in case of violence or other problems.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Voting delayed in three polling stations due to unavailability of EVMs

Voting at three polling stations in Kairana could not be started yet due to the unavailability of EVM machines. Voters, in large numbers, have been waiting for it in the queue.

Input by Sarfaraz Ali/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: 2.48 lakh voters registered, 7 transgender voters included

The number of registered voters for Maheshtala by-election are 2,48,665. Out of this, 1,27,149 are male and 1,21,509 are women voters. There are seven registered transgender voters. The number of total booths is 283 and there are 111 premises. Batanagar Balika Vidyalaya has been chosen as the DCRC centre. The areas under Maheshtala Police Station and Rabindranagar Police Station will also witness the voting.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

MAHESHTALA: BJP, CPM and TMC candidates in fray

The bypoll in Maheshtala constituency of West Bengal was necessitated with the death of  MLA Kasturi Das. Dulal Das, the husband of the passed away MLA has been nominated from Trinamool Congress as the candidate. Sujay Ghosh and Prabhatpratim Choudhury are the candidates from BJP and CPM, respectively.

Input by Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

KAIRANA: Visuals of voting underway in Shamli

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Voting for #Kairana Lok Sabha by-poll underway; Visuals from polling booth number 29 in Shamli pic.twitter.com/xxuioIEUV3

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

CHENGANNUR: Voting begins in the Assembly constituency

Amid allegations of horse-trading in Karnataka, the Chengannur bypoll in Kerala has garnered a lot of attention with the BJP desperate to increase its presence in the communist heartland. The bypoll will be contested between a large number of candidates. The Chengannur by-election was necessitated after the death of CPM legislator KK Ramachandran Nair in January.

Kerala: People form queue outside SNDP Lower Primary School, Kozhuvalloor village as voting for #Chengannur assembly by-poll begins. pic.twitter.com/45VoZlsql4

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

MAHESHTALA: Voting starts in this West Bengal constituency

Voting has begun for the Maheshtala Assembly constituency in West Bengal. Keeping up with its rising prospects in West Bengal, BJP will be looking at gaining more ground in the Maheshtala bypoll while TMC will hope to continue its winning streak. The Mahestala bypoll has emerged a tight three-way contest between TMC, BJP, and the Congress-CPM alliance, with each candidate wooing voters. 

Input from Utsa Sarmin/101Reporters

12 candidates in fray in Kairana, 10 from Noorpur

As per EC, 12 contestants are in fray for the Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls out of which three are women while 10 persons are contesting in the Noorpur Assembly bypolls. Two contestants are women.  

Input by Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

NOORPUR: 3,06,226 people to vote

In Noorpur, 3,06,226 people will exercise their franchise, out of which 10 are from third gender, 1,64,292 are males while the rest are females. 

Input from Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

53 companies of paramilitary forces deployed in Kairana, Noorpur

The Election Commission said that they have deployed 53 companies of paramilitary forces, 10 companies of  Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Kairana and Noorpur.

Input from Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

Voting in Kairana, Noorpur to begin shortly

Voting in Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana Lok seat and and Noorpur Assembly seat will begin shortly (at 7 am). The Election Commission has made all the preparations for it.  In Kairana, 16,09,628 voter will exercise their franchise, out of which 77 persons are from the third gender, 7,36,431 are females while the rest are males.

Input from Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters

Voting in Palghar constituency to begin shortly

Like Kairana, the Palghar Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra is also going to be a prestige battle for BJP, as these seats were previously being held by the saffron party. 

The Palghar seat in north Konkan fell vacant after sitting BJP MP Chintaman Vanga died on 30 January following a heart attack. BJP has already received a jolt in Palghar with the Vanga family exiting BJP and joining its bitter ally Shiv Sena. 

Maharashtra: Visuals from Booth Number 154-159 in Vasai, voting for #PalgharLokSabhaByElection to begin shortly. pic.twitter.com/MFPiJguYrS

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018

Significance of Kairana and Noorpur bypolls in Uttar Pradesh

Of particular significance will be bypolls to the Kairana Lok Sabha seat and the Noorpur Assembly seat, especially because the BJP had lost two prestigious Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur and Phulpur in March. The success of Samajwadi Party candidates in both Gorakhpur and Phulpur came as a boost for efforts by Opposition parties to forge a common understanding against the BJP in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Voting in Kairana in Uttar Pradesh to begin at 7 am

Of particular significance will be bypolls to the Kairana Lok Sabha seat especially because the BJP had lost two prestigious Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh in March. With the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party joining hands, the BJP had to suffer defeats at Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies. They were both saffron bastions earlier, Gorakhpur being earlier represented by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Voting for #KairanaByPoll to begin at 7 am. Visuals from Shamli's Booth Number 29, Rashtriya Kisan Inter college. pic.twitter.com/NAGlMdyBh5

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 28, 2018

Polling also to be held in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Karnataka

Also going for polls on Monday is the Rajrajeswari Nagary Assembly seat in Karnataka, election for which was suspended following the recovery of nearly 10,000 voter ID cards from a flat in the constituency.  

Both BJP and Congress had indulged in a blame game after officials said prima facie that most of the voter ID cards recovered seemed genuine.
But now that the Congress and JD(S) have joined hands to form the Karnataka government, candidates from both of them are eyeing to win the seat.

10 Assembly, 4 Lok Sabha bypolls today

The stage is set for the bypoll to one Lok Sabha and five Assembly seats in as many states in the eastern region on Monday. 

The Lok Sabha seats which will go for polls include Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and the sole parliamentary constituency in Nagaland. There will also be Assembly bypolls taking place in Noorpur (Uttar Pradesh), Shahkot (Punjab), Jokihat (Bihar), Gomia and Silli (Jharkhand), Chengannur (Kerala), Palus Kadegaon (Maharashtra), Ampati (Meghalaya), Tharali (Uttarakhand) and Maheshtala (West Bengal).