New Delhi: Polling began this morning (May 10, 2004) for the 182 Lok Sabha seats spread across 16 States and Union Territories in the make-or-mar fourth and final phase of the staggered elections amid tight security.

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Polling for the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency in Assam began amidst tight security from 7 hrs (IST) will decide the political fate of eleven candidates including Congress heavyweight Santosh Mohan Dev.

Altogether 8,79,243 voters including 4,20,909 women are expected to exercise their franchise in the Barak Valley constituency where the polling schedule for April 26 was postponed to today due to floods there, official sources said.

Polling began in all the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala at 7 hrs (IST) under pleasant weather today. In many places voters had begun turning up before the polling booths well before the voting started and the agents of candidates and party workers are found active in and around.

Polling for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 17 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh began this morning under tight security arrangements.

An estimated 2.32 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 155 candidates.

Polling to elect 39 members to the Lok Sabha from Tamil Nadu began on a brisk note this morning.

Police said balloting started without any hiccups. Large number of people began arriving at the polling booths much before the polling started at 0700 hrs this morning, police added.

Elections to 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal began today amidst tight security with 180 companies of the Central forces maintaining a strict vigil on the law and order situation and the Election Commission keeping a hawk's eye on the poll process.

Braving the oppressive heat, voters turned up to exercise their franchise in different booths since polling began at 7.00 hrs (IST).

Altogether 355 candidates, including 33 women, are trying their luck this time in the elections in which over four crore voters were expected to exercise their franchise.