Kochi: About 15.2 per cent of electorate was reported to have cast their votes within two hours of the commencement of the polling at 8.00 a m for Ernakulam Lok Sabha bypoll.

No untoward incidents have been reported so far from any polling centres, polling officials said.

There are seven candidates in the fray, including M O John (UDF), Sebastian Paul (LDF-backed independent) and V Vishwanatha Menon (BJP and EMS-AKG Janakeeya Vedi).

The bypoll has been necessitated following the death of sitting MP, George Eden.

The strength of the electorate in the constituency is 10,88,148.

PTI