New Delhi: About 20 to 25 per cent of the 2.26 crore electorate registered their choice through EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) in the first phase of elections for 15 Lok Sabha and 120 Assembly constituencies by noon in Karnataka.

The electoral fortunes of Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna (Chamarajpet), Union Minister of State for Railways, Basavana Gouda Patil Yatnal (Bijapur), former Prime Minister H D Devegowda (Kanakapura) and State unit BJP president Anantkumar (Bangalore South) will be decided today (Apr 20, 2004).

While, in Hyderabad an estimated 35 per cent of 2.73 crore voters cast their votes till noon in the first phase of simultaneous elections to 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Reports of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) failing to register the votes poured in from Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool, Karimnagar, Ranga Reddy, Nizamabad, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Khammam, Nalgonda and West Godavari, besides some polling booths in the twin cities.

Even in Mumbai a moderate percentage of 16.55 of 2.94 crore voters cast their ballots braving the scorching summer heat, in 24 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra in the first four hours today.

Two hundred and ten candidates were in fray for the first phase of polls in the State.

Para-military forces along with the State police continued to patrol the 49,432 polling stations, including 557 stations identified as hyper-sensitive and 1380 as sensitive booths.

Reports from Assam indicate that, 42 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise till noon amidst reports of polling being disrupted in some polling stations following disturbances and boycotts called by aggrieved citizens, official sources said.

With the sun shining bright in the state after a fortnight of heavy rains, voters came out in large numbers to cast their votes amidst tight security.