(Image source from: Lok Sabha elections 2014: Phase 3 registers high voter turnout})

The third phase of election on Thursday saw a high voter turnout in most states. The Election Commission made a special mention of Jammu and Kashmir, which registered an "outstanding" 66 % voting in Jammu, the only constituency where balloting was held.

Polling on April 10 was crucial for the Congress as it holds 45 out of the 91 constituencies that polled across 11 states and three union territories. For the BJP also the third phase of polling was equally important as it has to reach the 272 mark if it were to form the next government in the 543-member Lok Sabha.

Delhi, which has seven seats, registered a high voter turnout of 64 %, higher by 12 % from the 2009 general elections. The figure could go up, according to the Election Commission. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal were among the early voters in the national capital.

Uttar Pradesh recorded 65 % polling, an increase of 14 % from the last general elections. Even the riot-affected Muzaffarnagar in western UP polled on Thursday.

Maharashtra, where polling was held in 10 constituencies, registered around 54 % voter turnout till 5 pm. The voting figure could reach 58 %, according to the Election Commission.

Voting in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh was comparatively low. Till 5 pm Bihar registered only 51.92 % voter turnout, while Madhya Pradesh had just 46.55 % voter turnout till 4:30 pm.

The third phase of polling for 2014 Lok Sabha elections had several top leaders in the fray, including Kamal Nath, Kapil Sibal, Ajit Singh, Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and retired Army chief General VK Singh.

(Picture Source: vickynanjapa.files.wordpress.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)