Tags: India , 15th General Election , LS Polls

New Delhi: The biggest festival of Indian democracy began at a slower pace than expected. Polling in the first phase of LS polls began Thursday morning with not much turnout at the polling booths.

However, the scene is expected to change as the day grows further.

The first phase of polling will decide fates of some bigger names like RJD chief Lalu Prasad, BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha and TRS president K Chandrasekar Rao. As many as 1,715 candidates are contesting for 124 constituencies spread across 15 states and two union territories.

The polling will end at 1700 hrs in most places, except in naxal-infested areas where it would close at 1500 hrs.

Around 143 million voters will exercise their franchise today in the first phase of 15th Lok Sabha elections across 1.85 lakh polling stations set up by the Election Commission.

Tight security arrangements have been made all across the nation in the wake of terror threats.

Elections to 154 Assembly segments in Andhra Pradesh and 70 in Orissa are also being held today.

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