2019 Assembly Election: Simultaneous Assembly polls being held in Andhra, Arunachal, Sikkim and Odisha.
Phase one of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am today, and 91 parliamentary constituencies are voting across 20 states and union territories. Coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections are assembly elections in four states today, where voting is being held simultaneously to decide the next government in those states. The four states where assembly elections are being held are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha. While polling for the assembly elections in Andhra, Arunachal and Sikkim will complete in a single-phase today, voting for the Odisha Assembly will be held in four phases - first being today - coinciding with the four phases of the Lok Sabha elections in the state. The counting of votes for the assembly elections will be held simultaneously with that of the Lok Sabha or parliamentary elections on May 23, and the results will be declared the same day.
Here are the LIVE updates from the 2019 Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha:
Polling In Andhra Pradesh Continues Even After 10pm
Polling continued in some polling centres in Andhra Pradesh past 10 pm Thursday as voters stood in long queues waiting for their turn to exercise their franchise
Arunachal Pradesh Records 66% Voter TurnoutAn estimated 66 per cent of the voters in Arunachal Pradesh exercised their franchise on Thursday to elect members of the state Assembly and the two Lok Sabha MPs, an election official said
Sumitra Rai, 107, shows her voter ID after casting her vote during the first phase of general elections at Poklok Kamrang, South Sikkim (PTI photo)
BJP Alleges Violation Of Model Code Of Conduct By Naveen Patnaik
BJP delegation files a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The delegation alleges that his speeches delivered today were live telecast on a TV channel. They have requested Chief Electoral to take action
74% Voter Turnout In SikkimAn estimated 74 per cent of the voters in Sikkim have exercised their franchise on Thursday to elect members of the state Legislative Assembly as well as the lone Lok Sabha MP from the state, an election commission official said.
Odisha Records 70% Voter Turnout
Brisk polling was recorded in Odisha Thursday with around 70 per cent of the over 60 lakh electorate casting their votes in four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly constituencies.
Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer said that six booths of Malkangiri district's Chitrakonda saw no voting due to Maoist threat, news agency ANI reported.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019 LIVE: 1 Dead In Poll ViolenceA Telugu Desam Party member died after clashes between the TDP and the YSR Congress in Tadipatri Assembly constituency in Anantapur district. TDP's Siddha Bhaskar Reddy died in the clashes.
Odisha Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: 22% Voter Turnout In 4 HoursNearly 22 per cent of the 60.03 lakh voters cast their ballots in the first four hours of polling today for the four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly seats in Odisha in the first phase, an election officer said. Braving the scorching sun, people were seen making a beeline outside the polling booths to cast their rights.
Elections were underway for four parliamentary constituencies Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Koraput and 28 Assembly constituencies, which fall under the Lok Sabha seats.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019 LIVE: ITBP jawans On Booth Security Duties In Srikakulam
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019 LIVE: Official Confirms EVM glitches
Andhra Pradesh chief electoral officer has confirmed that 362 EVMs were bit functioning properly as polling for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections is underway in the southern state.
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: 3 Injured In Poll Violence
Three people were seriously injured in poll violence in Arunachal's Pipsorang in Kurung Kune district after a fight broke out between workers of the BJP and the National People's Party.
Sikkim Assembly Election 2019 LIVE: 11% Polling Observed Till 10 AMAn estimated 11 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first three hours of polling in 32 legislative assembly constituencies and the lone Lok Sabha constituency in Sikkim. There has been no report of any untoward incident till 10 am, the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) in the state said. Polling is being held in 567 polling stations spread across four districts in Sikkim.
Odisha Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: 15% Voting Recorded In First 3 Hours Of PollingAround 15 per cent voting was recorded in the first three hours as polling was underway in four Lok Sabha seats and 28 assembly constituencies in the first phase of polls in Odisha today. Long queues of voters were seen at polling stations in Koraput, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Berhampur Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 assembly segments.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019: Chandrababu Naidu Unhappy Over EVM GlitchesAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his unhappiness over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) not functioning at several polling booths. Mr Naidu told the media in Amravati that polling was delayed at several places as the EVMs were not functioning. He said an EVM was not working where Chief Electoral Officer Gopal Krishna Dwivedi went to cast his vote.
Mr Naidu said at least now the Election Commission should review its stand on EVMs. "We have long been saying that there is scope for technical problems and manipulation in EVMs. Even technologically advanced countries are using ballot papers," the TDP chief said.
He said 22 political parties in the country demanded that at least the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips be counted. He did not agree with the Election Commission that counting of all VVPAT slips will take six days.
A Jana Sena Party candidate in Andhra Pradesh was arrested on Thursday after he broke an Electronic Voting Machine or EVM on Thursday as polling for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections began in the state.
Madhusudan Gupta threw the EVM on the floor at a polling station in the Guntakal Assembly constituency of Anantapur district, the police said. Mr Gupta, who had come to cast his vote at the polling station in Gutti, was angry with the polling staff over names of assembly and parliament constituencies not being displayed properly, news agency IANS reported.
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: 6% Voter Turnout Till 9 AMAn estimated six per cent voters voted today in the first two hours of polling in Arunachal Pradesh. Simultaneous polls are being held in Arunachal Pradesh to decide the fate of 181 candidates for 57 assembly seats and 12 candidates for two Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Kangki Darang said an estimated six per cent electors cast their votes till 9 am.
Odisha Assembly Elections 2019: Women Voters Outnumber Men In Today's ConstituenciesOver 60 lakh voters in Odisha, including more than 30 lakh women, are voting today in the first phase of polls for four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly seats. Women outnumber men in these constituencies as they form 30,30,222 of an estimated 60,03,707 electorate, while 29,72,925 are male. As many as 560 voters belong to the third gender for the first of the four-phase polls.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019 LIVE: Facts And Stats
There are a total of 3,93,45,717 registered voters in Andhra Pradesh, including 1,94,62,339 male, 1,98,79,421 female and 3,957 transgenders. Of the total, 10.15 lakh are first-time voters in the age group 18-19. As many as 2,118 and 319 candidates are in the fray for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats respectively.
Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh is the Telugu Desam Party candidate from Mangalagiri Assembly segment that covers Undavalli.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019: EVM Glitches Delay PollingPolling for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections is underway in Andhra Pradesh. In many places electronic voting machines (EVMs) had glitches resulting in some delay in polling, an official said.
State Chief Electoral Officer Gopal Krishna Dwivedi cast his vote in Tadepalli and said there were complaints about technical glitches in EVMs in about 50 places. Technical teams were on the job to rectify the defects and enable polling, he said.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections LIVE: Jagan Reddy's Message To People Of Andhra
YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, who turned up early at a voting booth in Andhra Pradesh's Pulivendula, had a message for first-time voters.
"Vote for change, vote without fear," Mr Reddy told NDTV, smiling, his supporters cheering from behind.
"I am very confident. It will go well I guess. I am pretty sure people are looking for a change. I hope it would happen," he added.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election 2019: Chandrababu Naidu casts his voteChief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his family members exercised their franchise at a polling station in Undavalli village in the state capital region Amaravati. His son Nara Lokesh is the TDP candidate from Mangalagiri Assembly segment that covers Undavalli. This is the first time that Mr Naidu and his family members cast their votes in the new state of Andhra Pradesh. In 2014 elections, they had voted in Hyderabad, then capital of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Sikkim Assembly Elections 2019: Key Candidates
Prominent candidates include Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kimar Chamling, who is seeking a record eighth successive term as an MLA. He is contesting from two assembly seats -- Poklok-Kamrang and Namchi-Singhithang. Former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, who is the working president of the Hamro Sikkim party (HSP) is contesting in two assembly seats.
Sikkim Assembly Elections 2019: Facts And Stats
In Sikkim, an electorate of over 4 lakh would exercise their franchise to elect a 32-member assembly.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections LIVE: Key Contestants
Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan is contesting in two assembly constituencies -- Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka. State Congress chief Raghuveera Reddy is contesting from Kalyandurg assembly constituency. Chandrababu Naidu's brother-in-law and actor N Balakrishna is seeking re-election from Hindupur assembly constituency as the TDP candidate.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections LIVE: Key Factors That Will Influence The Poll Outcome
In Andhra Pradesh, anti-incumbency, caste and corruption are the major factors that could determine the outcome of the elections to Lok Sabha and the state assembly as a 3.93 crore strong electorate decides its political representatives.
Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: Battle For Andhra Pradesh
Prominent leaders like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his main opponent YS Jaganmohan Reddy are contesting in Kuppam and Pulivendula assembly constituencies respectively. Mr Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, a minister in Andhra government, is trying his luck from Mangalagiri.
Assembly Polls 2019 LIVE: Facts And Stats
The electoral fate of many political bigwigs is at stake today as voting is underway for polls to state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha, simultaneously with 91 Lok Sabha seats in 18 states and two union territories in the first phase of the general and state elections. In Andhra, Arunachal and Sikkim, people are casting their votes for all the assembly constituencies. In Odisha, however, voting is taking place in 28 out of 147 seats.
Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: When Will The Results Of The Assembly Polls Be Declared?
The counting of votes for the assembly elections will be held simultaneously with that of the Lok Sabha or parliamentary elections on May 23, and the results will be declared the same day.
Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: How Many Phases Will Assembly or State Elections Be Held In?
While polling for the assembly elections in Andhra, Arunachal and Sikkim will complete in a single-phase today, polling for the Odisha Assembly will be held in four phases - First being today - coinciding with the four phases of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Assembly Elections 2019 LIVE: Which States Have Assembly Elections Today?
Four states have assembly elections today, coinciding with the 2019 Lok Sabha or parliamentary elections. The four states where assembly elections are being held today are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha.
Elections 2019 LIVE: Simultaneous Lok Sabha Polls And Assembly Elections Began At 7 AM Today
Phase one of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am today, and 91 parliamentary constituencies are voting across 20 states and union territories. Coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections are assembly elections in four states today, where voting is being held simultaneously to decide the next government in those states.