Mayawati casts her vote in Lucknow

Lucknow/ Siliguri/Rajkot, Apr 30 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati cast her vote along with commoners here on Wednesday morning.

"I urge the supporters of my party in every public meeting to leave all their work and go cast their votes. I just don't give advices, I also implement them myself. So, I have come here before embarking on my election tour, to cast my vote," said Mayawati.

In Siliguri in West Bengal, voting began amid tight security as early voters queued outside the polling booths.

People said they hoped that the new government would bring down the prices, which have made lives difficult.

"We want the government to work for our benefit. We are voting with the hope that the new government will do something about inflation," said Pranab Das, a voter.

In Rajkot, BJP legislators said they hoped to emerge victorious in all the 26 parliamentary seats in these polls.

"We are aiming for 26 seats, but for now, we can say that we will definitely win 21 seats. The rest five which are in crisis, which depend upon the public opinion. But, we are assuming that we will win all the 26 seats," said Vajubhai Vala, Gujarat's Finance Minister.

In Ahmedabad, young and old came out with equal enthusiasm to cast their votes.

In the last elections, the BJP scored a narrow victory over Congress in Gujarat, which counts for 26 out of 543 seats in the Parliament. It also hosts the constituency of its prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani.

In Gwalior, the voter turnout seemed thin, as few voters trickled in during the early hours of voting.

West Bengal has deployed more than 19,000 paramilitary forces for today's vote, which covers three districts wracked by rebel violence.

Parts of the Kashmir valley also vote amid a boycott call given by separatists who do not want New Delhi to present a healthy turnout.

Maoist violence hit the first two rounds of voting in the April-May general election, killing more than 20 people as rebels targeted police and polling officials. (ANI)