Lucknow, 19 April (HS): An average voter participation of 57.54 percent was registered as of 5 p.m. on Friday in eight western Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats where voting is taking place in the first round of the Lok Sabha election. The polls began at 7 a.m.

According to the Election Commission (EC), as of 5 p.m., 63.29 percent of voting had occurred in Saharanpur, 57.65 percent in Moradabad, 58.68 percent in Kairana, 58.05 percent in Nagina, 60.23 percent in Pilibhit, 54.68 percent in Bijnor, 52.42 percent in Rampur, and 54.91 percent in Muzaffarnagar. These seats are located in the Jat and sugarcane belts of the state. According to election authorities, the polling process is proceeding without serious problems or law-and-order difficulties.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj