Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 3 LIVE: Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi taunts BJP President Amit Shah

Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi taunts BJP President Amit Shah at a rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur says "Murder accused BJP President Amit Shah....waah! kya shaan hai....Have you heard Jay Shah's name? He is a magician, he made Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore in 3 months."

Like in the previous two phases of Lok Sabha elections held on April 11 and April 18, snags in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported from different polling stations spread across the 13 states and two Union Territories which went to the polls in the third phase on Tuesday.

In Kerala, poll officials said that EVMs failed to function in some booths and were subsequently replaced. Many leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, expressed their concern over the faulty voting machines.

Current BJP MP from North West Delhi Udit Raj on Tuesday accused the party of ignoring the hard work of ticket aspirants and instead depending on some "inscrutable internal standards".

His reaction came after the party dropped him as a candidate for the May 12 polls in Delhi and named singer Hans Raj Hans for the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

In a statement, he said the BJP has hurt him.

"Entire India thinks that BJP offers tickets based on hard work, honesty and capability. It appears this is not the truth. The decision to offer the ticket or deny it is based on some inscrutable internal standards," he said.

In a bid to highlight their problems, about 100 turmeric farmers--50 each from Telangana and Tamil Nadu, are planning to file nominations as independents from the Varanasi constituency, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re-election.

According to PK Deivasigamani, president of the Turmeric Farmers Association of India, they will file their nominations before April 29.

"They are in the process of arranging funds towards deposit to contest the polls," he said.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur on Tuesday filed another set of nomination papers as a BJP candidate from Bhopal. She had earlier filed her papers on Monday, claiming that it was an auspicious mahurat.

Thakur arrived at the District Nomination Office flanked by state BJP chief Rakesh Singh and other party leaders in a road show after offering prayers at a temple at Bhawani Chowk here.

Sitting BJP MP Alok Sanjar also filed his nomination from Bhopal later in the day and informed reporters that he had done so on the saffron party's orders

At least 10 deaths were reported from various places in Kerala on Tuesday while polling was underway for 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state. However, the Election Commission said it had nothing to do with voting.

The state poll panel asked the district collectorate to compile the figures as the incidents were reported in Kasargode, Kollam, Kannur, Ernakulam, Wayanad among others when Kerala voted in the third phase of the staggered process.

Disapproving of BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks against martyred ATS chief Hemant Karkare, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said it hurt the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is an "asset" for the NDA.

The Shiv Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', said Modi had been invoking the sacrifices made by soldiers to raise consciousness of people about nationalism and "terming sacrifices of martyrs as anti-national at such a time tarnishes his image". Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, had recently claimed that Karkare died during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she had "cursed" him for "torturing" her.

The Sena stated that though it did not support Thakur's remarks against Karkare, the party had spoken in her favour during the probe in the Malegaon blast case.

Amid heavy security arrangements, voting ended peacefully on Tuesday in the first phase of the three-phased Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag constituency.

The constituency spans the Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts. On Tuesday, polling was only held in Anantnag district.

Poll officials said barring a few incidents of stone pelting in Dialgam and Damhal (Kokernag) areas, voting in the six segments of Anantnag ended peacefully at 4 p.m.

Security forces used tear gas to disperse stone pelters who tried to dissuade voters from reaching polling stations.

Some 250 members of the transgender community voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha election on Tuesday.

Anju Masi, resident of Baranpura locality, said thanks to the district administration's initiative, members of the community living in the area enrolled as voters this time and got i-cards.

"We voted in a Lok Sabha election for the first time today," she said.

Vadodara district collector Shalini Agarwal said that members of the transgender community were enrolled as part of the Election Commission's directive that no eligible person should be deprived of the right to vote.

A 21-year-old man was booked by police after he allegedly made a false complaint about a voting machine in a booth where he cast his vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday.

The case was registered against the voter, identified as Ebin Babu, under IPC section 177 (furnishing false information) after a test voting conducted by polling officials showed his complaint to be false, police said.

Election officials said he was handed over to the police for further action in view of increasing false complaints and allegations about voting machines, a move that drew criticism from opposition Congress.

The polling officials at the booths have been directed to collect complaints in writing, they added.

Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, says, “VVPAT of Polling Station No. 196 of 87-Badamba Assembly Constituency was changed after commencement of actual poll, due to some error. 134 votes had been polled in the machine by then. Concerned Sector Officer reached booth with replacement VVPAT.”

“VVPAT meant for Parliamentary constituency was mistakenly attached to Control and Ballot Unit meant for Assembly constituency during replacement. Error was detected after 22 votes were polled. Polling adjourned immediately; recommendation to be made to ECI for fresh poll.”

BJP candidate from Pilibhit parliamentary constituency, Varun Gandhi visits a polling booth in Pilibhit and clicks selfies with supporters.

Estimated voter turnout till now for the 3rd phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 is 51.15%. Voting for 116 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and 2 union territories is being held today.

Babulal Murmu, a polling agent found dead at his house in Buniadpur, Dakshin Dinajpur.

Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh leaves after casting his vote at a polling booth in Dispur

BJP workers thrashed an NCP worker at SDM office in Bhopal after he allegedly showed black flags to Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP LS candidate from Bhopal, during her roadshow.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti casts her vote at polling booth number-37D in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district

Estimated voter turnout till now for the 3rd phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 is 37.89% till 1.30pm. Voting for 116 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and 2 union territories is being held today

Finance Minister & BJP leader Arun Jaitley casts his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad.

Central forces are working for BJP, asking voters in West Bengal to vote for the saffron party, says Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Arambagh

Congress candidates, Sheila Dikshit from North East Delhi & Ajay Maken from New Delhi parliamentary constituency, file nomination.

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani casts his vote at a polling booth at Shahpur Hindi School in Ahmedabad.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel after casting his vote at polling booth number 55 in Durg in the 3rd phase of polling of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

“We have said what we had to say in favour of the party and our candidates, now voters will decide. They are the real judge,” Bhagel said.

The opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday claimed that EVMs and VVPAT machines malfunctioned at some polling booths in Goa.

Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar alleged foul play by the BJP and said he will complain about this to the Election Commission.

Expressing concern over faulty EVMs in Cuncolim and Quepem Assembly segments, he said, "During mock polling, all votes were getting registered in the BJP's name despite pressing buttons of other parties. I will be filing a complaint with the Election Commission. This is foul play by the BJP."

An estimated 16.94 per cent of over 80 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal, an election official said.

Barring a few isolated incidents of violence, polling has largely been peaceful in Balurghat, Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Jangipur and Murshidabad Lok Sabha seats, he said.

Actor Sunny Deol joins Bharatiya Janata Party in presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman

Boxer Vijender Singh to file his nomination from South Delhi seat as Congress candidate shortly, says “I'm happy that Congress has given me a responsibility to serve the people. As a son of a driver, I understand the plight of the poor. I'll reach out to ppl to understand their problems.”

He says, “I can't see any Modi wave anywhere. People have identified the real face. Youth just want employment, they say 'jumlon se peth nahi bharega.”

Senior Congress leader and Gulbarga candidate Mallikarjun Kharge casts his vote at polling booth number 119 in Gulabarga in Karnataka

Congress leader Hardik Patel casts his vote at booth number 252/355 in Surendranagar constituency in Viramgam, Gujarat

People queue up at a polling booth in Sugandhagiri, Wayanad to cast their vote in the third phase of polling of Lok Sabha Election 2019

Two people have reportedly died in Kerala while standing in a queue outside a polling booth.

A 77 year old man died after casting his vote in Pathanamthitta. In another incident, an elderly woman who had come to vote at Chokli in Vadakara constituency collapsed and died.

BJP MP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram constituency, Kummanam Rajasekharan, queues up to cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram

Social activist Anna Hazare after casting his vote in Ralegan Siddhi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra.

BJP workers beat an Election Official at booth number 231 alleging he was asking voters to press the 'cycle' symbol of Samajwadi party in Moradabad

Priyank Kharge and his wife Shruthi Kharge casts their votes at polling station number 26, in Gundagurti village, in Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka.

An average 10.01 per cent voting was recorded in 26 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat in the first two hours of polling on Tuesday.

Three TMC workers injured after a crude bomb was hurled at them. The incident took place in Domkal municipality in Murshidabad

Heeraben Modi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother casts her vote at a polling station in Raisan, Ahmedabad

Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram candidate Shashi Tharoor casts his vote at a polling booth in the city. He is up against BJP's Kummanam Rajasekaran and LDF’s C Divakaran.

Younger brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Abhay Singh Yadav after casting his vote at a polling booth in Saifai, Mainpuri

Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik casts his vote at a polling booth in Bhubaneswar.

“Across India, millions of youngsters are stepping out to vote, many of them for the first time. In their hands lies the future of India. I'm confident that they want NYAY for every Indian and will vote wisely,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

Assam-12.36%, Bihar-12.60%,Goa-2.29%,Guj-1.35%, J&K-0.00%, K'taka-1.75%, Kerala-2.48%, M'rashtra-0.99%, Odisha-1.32%, Tripura-1.56%, UP-6.84%, WB-10.97%, Chhattisgarh-2.24%, Dadra&Nagar Haveli-0.00%, Daman& Diu-5.83%

BJP President Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah cast their votes at polling booth in Naranpura Sub-Zonal office in Ahmedabad

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan casts his vote at a polling booth in Talcher, Odisha

In Bihar's Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha constituency, 4.4% voter turnout has been reported till 8 am, while 4% from Supaul & 3% from Araria. 5% has been recorded in Madhepura & Khagaria so far

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and wife Anjali cast their vote at a polling booth in Anil Gyan Mandir school in Rajkot

Polling has been halted across 500 polling booths in Kerala due to EVM glitches. “There are reports of many booths that are facing EVM malfunction. I hope the EC is taking a note of this," said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan

“Today third phase of polling is underway, I am fortunate that I also got the opportunity to fulfill my duty in my home state of Gujarat. Like you feel pure after a holy dip in Kumbh, one feels pure after casting vote in this festival of democracy,” said PM Modi after casting his vote.

“The weapon of terrorism is IED, the strength of democracy is voter ID. I can say with surety that the voter ID is much much more powerful than an IED, so we should understand the strength of our voter IDs.”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to cast his vote at polling booth in Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ranip, Ahmedabad; BJP President Amit Shah also present

Nationalist Congress Party's Supriya Sule along with her family casts her vote a polling station in Baramati; She is sitting MP and NCP MP candidate from Baramati

Glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been reported from Bareilly and Sambhal constituencies of Uttar Pradesh

Kerala CM P. Vijayan queues up to casts his vote at polling booth in RC Amala Basic UP School in Pinarayi in Kannur district.

Polling underway at polling booth number 155 in Lachit Nagar, Guwahati, in the third phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

PM Narendra Modi reaches his mother's home in Gandhinagar; to cast his vote in Ahmedabad shortly

BJP MP candidate from Shimoga BY Raghvendra casts his vote at a polling booth in Shikaripura, in the third phase of general elections

Polling began on Tuesday for the third and largest phase of Lok Sabha election in 117 seats, including all constituencies in Gujarat and Kerala, with BJP president Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and several Union ministers among prominent candidates in the fray.

Besides all seats in Gujarat (26) and Kerala (20), voting will be held in four seats in Assam, five in Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, 14 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, five in West Bengal, two in Goa, and one each in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Tripura.

The polling in Tripura East constituency, which was earlier scheduled for April 18, will be held in this phase, as also in a part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir, where election is being held in three phases.