In Maharashtra, an estimated 50 to 55 per cent of 18.39 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the by-election to ten seats of the Legislative Assembly.

According to state's chief electoral officer, D K Sankaran, the polling in the constituencies -- Dahanu (ST), Ramtek, Biloli, Singnapur, Kannad, Akkalkot, Rahuri, Mulshi, Satara and Kagal was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported.

A total of 2576 polling stations had been set up for the by-poll in these constituencies of which Mulshi and Satara witnessed a direct contest between Congress and Shiv Sena-BJP combine. Forty-eight candidates were in the fray in the ten constituencies.

Agencies reporting from sensitive Bihar, where shoot-at-sight was ordered, say police firing and snatching of ballots marked the poll to seven Assembly seats. An estimated 50 to 55 per cent of theover 12 lakh electorate cast their votes today to decide the fate of 53 candidates, official sources said.

Police fired 13 rounds to disperse a mob of RJD and BJP supporters in Belaganj constituency in Gaya district. The district magistrate R K Srivastava said none was injured either in the police action or the clash.

In highly volatile Govindganj constituency an RJD polling agent was allegedly kidnapped by supporters of a rival party and bombs were hurled to terrorise voters in some booths.

Incidents of ballot snatching were reported from three polling stations of Pupri constituency where polling personnel fled to a nearby police station following intimidation by ballot-snatching miscreants. The state chief electoral officer A K Basu said repoll in three booths of Pupri constituency would be held either tomorrow or the day after.

Andhra reported violence as Opposition Congress workers clashed with ruling Telugu Desam Party members, who allegedly resorted to rigging at a polling station at Bijlipurvillage, in Andole (SC) Assembly constituency. Reports say a Congress worker was arrested for knifing a TDP activist.

Around 55 per cent of the more than 1.39 lakh voters cast their votes when the clash occurred, the sources added.

The ruling TDP has fielded telugu film comedian Babu Mohan for the seat, after he crossed over from the NTR-TDP in the wake of his defeat by Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi in Amalapuram(SC) in the February general elections.

Up north, while 60 to 70 percent polling was recorded in Ladakh LS constituency, a moderate 40 percent turnout was recorded in Jammu East Assembly segment and 34 in Tarn Taran Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab.

In Mandi Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency in Himachal Pradesh, more than 50 per cent polling was recorded.

Haryana recorded about 69 per cent for the Adampur Assembly seat, while in Tripura the Opposition Congress withdrew its candidate Sribas Charrabarty from the fray in Kamalpur Assembly seat alleging large-scale rigging and boothcapturing.

In Orissa, an estimated 45 per cent of the over 7.81 lakh electorate braved the severe heat to exercise their franchise for five Assembly seats. Voting was peaceful for the Bhandaripokhari seat which saw differences between allies BJP and BJD over seat sharing.