Assembly election 2018: Madhya Pradesh registers 27% voter turnout, Mizoram 49% till 1 pm

The voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh till 1 pm was recorded as 27 per cent, while that in the northeastern state was recorded as 49 per cent in Mizoram.

The turnout till 11 am was recorded as 21 per cent in MP while 29 per cent in Mizoram.

The two states are undergoing polls to elect their legislative members.

Amid tight security, polling for Mizoram's 40-member legislative assembly began at 7 am, while Madhya Pradesh went to the polls an hour later at 8 am.

However, Maoist-affected Balaghat district in MP went to poll at 7 am. 

Mizoram is one of three states currently under Congress rule, while the BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years. The BJP has never formed a government in Mizoram.

The Congress and the MNF (Mizoram's second party) are contesting all 40 constituencies in the state, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting in 39 seats.

The battle for power in Madhya Pradesh's 230 seats is mainly between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are also in the fray. 

The BJP has fielded candidates in all 230 seats, while the Congress is contesting 229 seats.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he had written to the Election Commission demanding an extension of voting in Madhya Pradesh after several complaints of EVM malfunctioning were reported in the polling booth. 

Shivraj Singh Chauhan who had been ruling the state for the past three terms expressed his confidence over winning the elections for the fourth time.

He said, "We’re 100 per cent certain that BJP will forma government with an absolute majority. We have set a target of 200 seats and our lakhs of volunteers are working to make it a reality".

While Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "I assure you that on 11th December Congress will form the government with the blessings of the people". 

The election day also witnessed an unfortunate death of one election commission in Guna while two others in Indore.