Moderate polling in UP (Third Lead)

Despite the rising mercury and sultry weather, moderate polling was reported Wednesday in most of the 15 parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

Serpentine queues were witnessed at many polling booths, where a large number of women and youngsters cast their votes.

According to the Election Commission, 20 percent polling was recorded till 11 a.m.

The highest polling was recorded in Faizabad, with 29.2 percent voters exercising their franchise. BJP's Lallu Singh is facing incumbent MP and Congress state unit president Nirmal Khatri.

In Amethi, where just 46 percent people had voted in 2009, the turnout was 27.8 percent till 11 a.m.

Amethi has been represented by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for the last two successive terms. He faces Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party and Smriti Irani of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gonda, from where union steel minister and Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma is the incumbent MP, witnessed 22.44 percent polling.

Sultanpur, from where BJP general secretary Varun Gandhi is contesting, saw 23 percent turnout. The seat was once represented by his father late Sanjay Gandhi.

Around 2.62 crore voters are eligible to vote to elect their representatives from among 243 candidates.

Of the 15 seats, two are reserved.

Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha told IANS that a better voting percentage was expected this time.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere, election officials said.