UP records 36.15% voter turnout till 1 PM

Over 36% voters have exercised their franchise till 1 PM in the fifth phase of elections to decide fate of 243 candidates, including Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and BJP National Secretary Varun Gandhi.

In Amethi, 37.50% polling has been recorded so far whereas neighbouring Sultanpur from where Rahul's cousin Varun is contesting 35.60% voters have cast their votes.

In Pratapgarh 33.60%, while in Faizabad 38%, Gonda 33.3%, Kaushambi 35.6%, Phulpur 33.4% votes were cast.

Allahabad recorded 33.6% voter turnout whereas, Ambedkarnagar 36.8%, Bahraich 38%, Kaisarganj 37.8, Shravasti 35.7%, Basti 41.26%, Sant Kabir Nagar 36 and Bhadohi 35.8%.

Highest turnout was reported from Basti with 41.26% votes.

More than 2.6 crore electorate, including 1.37 crore male and 1.19 crore female are expected to exercise their franchise in the this phase.

While 34 candidates are in fray from Amethi, 10 candidates are contesting from Bahraich constituency.

Of the 25,085 polling centres, 3715 has been identified as critical.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, poll percentage in these seats was 43.37%.

Complaints of EVM malfunction were received from nearly eight booths in Bhadohi and five booths in Bahraich which saw delay in voting process.

In Bhadohi, polling was temporarily stopped in Bhadohi, Gyanpur, Aura and Handia for nearly half an hour and began only when faulty machines were replaced by the District Electoral Officer.

A booth level officer was replaced in Bhadohi for allegedly distributing slips in favour of a particular candidate.

In Pratapgarh's Kandhai and Madhupur area, some people were not allowed to vote as their names were not in the list.