Lucknow: About 10 per cent turnout was recorded in the two hours after polling opened in the 16 parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh where the first phase of elections was underway on Thursday, an official here said.
"Polling began at 7 am amid tight security. Till 9 am, 10 per cent turnout was reported," state additional chief electoral officer Umesh Sinha told IANS.
He said that although the turnout was "fairly good", it was expected to rise until noon. After that there may be a lull due to the scorching heat.
The fate of 271 candidates in the 16 constituencies will be decided by 24 million voters.
Over 125,000 security personnel have been deployed at 26,279 polling stations manned by about 110,000 polling personnel in the first phase.
"There was a minor clash between two groups in Deoria but no other untoward incident has been reported from any other part of the state so far. Security forces are keeping a strict vigil even in the remotest parts of the constituencies where 45 central observers are also on the move," said Sinha.
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