Polling picks up to 50% in Uttarakhand by 3 pm

Medium to brisk polling was today recorded till 3 pm in Uttarakhand, where 788 candidates are trying their luck from 70 Assembly segments.

Only 10% polling was recorded during the first two hours till 10 am but as the day progressed, the number of voters reaching the polling stations increased.

"Nearly 50% polling has been recorded till 2 pm," Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi said.

Tight security arrangements have been made for the polling, which has so far been incident-free, she added.

In most of the polling booths, people are seen queuing up to cast their votes.

Over 63 lakh electorates are expected to exercise their franchise in the elections where the ruling BJP is locked in a close fight against Congress.

Chief Minister BC Khanduri, former Chief Ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Nityanand Swami and ND Tiwari and assembly speaker Harbans Kapoor were among the early voters, who cast their votes in the morning.

The elections will also decide the fate of top state leaders, including Khanduri from Kotdwar, Nishank from Doiwala, the leader of the opposition Harak Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag and PCC chief Yashpal Arya from Baajpur seats.

The polling which began at 8 am would end at 5 pm in the evening.

A total of 788 candidates are trying their luck with main contenders BJP and Congress contesting all the 70 seats.

In the outgoing state assembly, the BJP has a strength of 36 members followed by Congress with 20, BSP with 8 and UKD with 3 while there are three independents.