Lok Sabha poll: EC issues show-cause notice to Mayawati, says she violated poll code

The first phase of Lok Sabha poll started at 7 am on Thursday with voters in 91 constituencies across 18 states and 2 Union Territories exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 1279 candidates.

Union Textile Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani filed her nomination papers from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. She will take on Congress president Rahul Gandhi from this seat which is considered the pocketborough of Gandhis. Rahul filed his nomination from Amethi from Wednesday.

Former Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers from Rae Bareli on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address public rallies in Bihar and Assam on Thursday. BJP president Amit Shah will address rallies in West Bengal and Tripura.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will address rallies in Sambhal, Amroha and Bareilly Lok Sabha constituencies.

Thank you for joining us. Please do join us again on Friday (April 12) for live updates on Lok Sabha election.

Here are all the highlights from April 11 (Thursday):

* Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath alleged Congress president Rahul Gandhi had "no time" for his parliamentary constituency Amethi but Union minister Smriti Irani, if elected from the seat, will ensure "all-round" development of the area. Irani has pitted herself against the Congress chief who has won thrice from the seat.

* Union Minister and BJP's candidate for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani declared assets worth over Rs 4.71 crore. In her affidavit, Irani has declared movable property worth over Rs 1.75 crore. Her immovable assets are worth about Rs 2.96 crore, which include an agricultural land valued at over Rs 1.45 crore and a residential building of Rs 1.50 crore.

In the movable category, Irani has cash in hand till March 31 totalling about Rs 6.24 lakh besides over Rs 89 lakh in bank accounts. She also has over Rs 18 lakh in NSS and postal savings insurance and another Rs 1.05 lakh in other investments. Irani, who is contesting against Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has vehicles valued at Rs 13.14 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 21 lakh. There is no FIR pending against her and she has not taken any loan.

* She (Mehbooba Mufti) can block me, but till when will she keep blocking 130 cr people of the nation? There is a wave in this country and if she doesn’t flow with it, she'll drown. In 2014 there was a wave, in 2019 there is tsunami, there is development: Gautam Gambhir

* Lok Sabha election: Voter turnout till 3pm in Lakshadweep is 51.25 per cent, in Uttarakhand is 46.59 per cent, in Manipur is 68.90 per cent, in Nagaland is 68 per cent, in Telangana is 48.95 per cent, in Assam is 59.5 per cent, in Meghalaya is 55 per cent, in Uttar Pradesh is 50.86 per cent, in West Bengal is 71.01 per cent, in Mizoram is 55.20 per cent, and in Tripura West parliamentary constituency is 68.65 per cent.

* Countdown to TMC's downfall will begin from May 23, when we win 23 seats from West Bengal. T of TMC stands for Tushtikaran (appeasement of Bangladeshi Infiltrators), M stands for Mafia and C for Chitfund, says Amit Shah at Raiganj.

* At least, 10 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor when discrepancies were detected during their mock trial here before the beginning of the polling. Rakesh Kumar, Sector Magistrate Bijnor, said, "There were reports that some EVMs were displaying `lotus` symbol after pressing the button against `elephant` symbol at some polling booths.""The elections are being held peacefully here. There were some issues during mock polling. So we changed the entire set of EVMs," Kumar said.

* Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani files her nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency.

Amethi: Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani files her nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency. #IndiaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/RL3U2TeBbv — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* Congress wrote to Home Minister over breach in security of its president Rahul Gandhi, saying when Gandhi was addressing media after filing nomination from Amethi, "a persual of his interaction will reflect that a laser was pointed at his head, on at least 7 separate occasions."

Congress wrote to Home Minister over breach in security of its president Rahul Gandhi y'day; says Gandhi was addressing media after filing nomination from Amethi, "a persual of his interaction will reflect that a laser was pointed at his head, on at least 7 separate occasions" pic.twitter.com/f3Jmnjhzs5 — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* Sonia Gandhi files nomination papers from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

* Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds a roadshow in Amethi ahead of Smriti Irani's nomination.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds a roadshow in Amethi. pic.twitter.com/ZdCVdr7QaC — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* Sonia Gandhi performs 'havan' ahead of filing nomination from Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also present.

Sonia Gandhi performs 'havan' ahead of filing nomination from Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also present #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/5QFXDiYILS — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* "When Modi comes back again then their corruption will be completely finished, their dynastic politics will be finished, their loot in name of poor will stop, their politics of case and religion will stop," PM Modi said in Bhagalpur.

* “All that I have been able to do is because you made me your chowkidar. Only the strong-willed can talk about peace...you all know what Pakistan was before 2014...they used to attack us and then threaten us...you are aware of how that has changed...you know what we did, we entered their homes and attacked them...I know what needs to be done...we were earlier shackled now I have broken them," PM Modi said at a rally in Bihar's Bhagalpur.

* Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani perform 'pooja' ahead of her filing nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency.

Amethi: Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani and her husband Zubin Irani perform 'pooja' ahead of her filing nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency #LokSabhaElections pic.twitter.com/MBpGLEbYpX — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reaches Amethi to accompany BJP leader Smriti Irani for the filing of her nomination papers.

* "Faces of women in burkhas are not being checked and I allege that fake voting is being done. If not looked into, I will demand a repoll," Union Minister and Muzaffarnagar BJP candidate Dr. Sanjiv Balyan told media.

Union Minister and Muzaffarnagar BJP candidate Dr. Sanjiv Balyan: Faces of women in burkhas are not being checked and I allege that fake voting is being done. If not looked into, I will demand a repoll pic.twitter.com/Gphlm2NoRx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* Election Commission reprimands Revenue Department for violating protocol. (Read more)

* PM Narendra Modi appeals voters to vote in record numbers. (Read more)

* Visuals from polling booth number 97 in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora, where voting is underway for  Lok Sabha election.

Jammu & Kashmir: Visuals from polling booth number 97 in Bandipora, where voting is underway for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/00cvqN9PfN — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* Flower petals being showered and 'Dhol' being played to welcome voters at polling booth number 126 in Baraut, Baghpat.

#WATCH Flower petals being showered and 'Dhol' being played to welcome voters at polling booth number 126 in Baraut, Baghpat. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/UEvBcihB0B — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2019

* Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his family after casting their vote for Lok Sabha poll in Amravati.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his family after casting their vote for #LokSabhaElections2019 in Amravati. pic.twitter.com/QzlYYfNzjd — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* Voting begins for 91 constituencies in 20 states and union territories in the 1st phase of Lok Sabha poll.

Voting begins for 91 constituencies in 20 states and union territories in the 1st phase of #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/7RyvOElPz9 — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat present at polling booth number 216 in Nagpur, to cast his vote for Lok Sabha poll.

Maharashtra: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat present at polling booth number 216 in Nagpur, to cast his vote for #LokSabhaElections2019 . Voting on 7 parliamentary constituencies in the state will be held today. pic.twitter.com/EAcsBoi3Mp — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to file her nomination from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency at 12:40pm.

* Voters begin to arrive at polling booths 156 and 158 in Dibrugarh ahead of the voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha election. Voting on 5 parliamentary constituencies in the state will be held today.

Assam: Voters begin to arrive at polling booths 156 and 158 in Dibrugarh ahead of the voting for the first phase #LokSabhaElections2019 Voting on 5 parliamentary constituencies in the state will be held today. pic.twitter.com/WfYj6g7FZ5 — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2019

* "75,000 security personnel will be on duty, monitoring of region being done using UAV & drones. Polling parties & EVMs have been air dropped at 159 polling centers that fall under sensitive areas," Bastar DM, A Tamboli on preparedness for Lok Sabha poll.