As 95 constituencies go to polls in 2nd phase of Lok Sabha Elections, PM Modi urges people to exercise their right to vote

As the country votes in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to urge voters to exercise their right to franchise. "Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls start today. I am sure all those whose seats are polling today will strengthen our democracy by exercising their franchise. I hope more youngsters head to the polling booths and vote!," he tweeted.

Polling began Thursday morning for 95 Lok Sabha seats spread across 11 states and the Union Territory of Puducherry with Tamil Nadu witnessing contest in 38 constituencies. Voting was also underway in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha and in 18 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.

Besides Tamil Nadu, polling is being held in 14 seats in Karnataka, 10 in Maharashtra, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam, Bihar and Odisha, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one seat each in Manipur and Puducherry.

Nearly 15.8 crore voters are eligible to vote in the Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha election. The Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven-phases for 543 seats on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19, and counting will be on May 23.