The Election Commission, however, said the polls were peaceful across the state with a voter turnout of 75 per cent till 5 pm.

During the final phase of Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh, villages in Shajapur boycotted voting due to lack of development, citing absence of Narmada Project benefits and road connectivity. Villagers demand resolution of grievances before casting votes, highlighting issues of transportation and education access.

As the sun ascended on Monday, Birbhum and Bardhaman-Durgapur became battlegrounds where the clash of political wills between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) transformed into physical confrontations, leaving the democratic exercise marred and bruised.

According to the ECI, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the lowest voting percentage till 11 am with 14.94 per cent voters, while West Bengal recorded the highest with 32.78 per cent.

The PM is scheduled to address election rallies in favour of NDA nominees in Hajipur, Muzaffarpur and Saran today.

JKPC and the Apni Party Chief alleged that the administration has arrested their party workers a day ahead of the polling in Srinagar.

This electoral battle marks a significant moment as it unfolds amid the backdrop of the region's altered political landscape following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

All eyes are on the prestigious Kannauj seat, where SP president Akhilesh Yadav is seeking re-election, and Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, contesting from Kheri, stands as another prominent candidate in the fray.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari made an appeal on Monday to voters in the Indore Lok Sabha constituency, urging them to choose the None of the Above (NOTA) option following the withdrawal of the party's candidate, Akshay Kanti Bam.

Voting began at 7 am and people were seen lining up outside polling stations to exercise their franchise in some areas of the constituency, according to the officials.

Polling commenced at 7 am in Begusarai, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Munger and Darbhanga and will continue till 6 pm, a senior official said.

The constituencies going to polls in the fourth phase include Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Bardhaman Purba (SC), Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC), and Birbhum.