3 die in poll violence, turnout 50 per cent

An estimated 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise for M'rashtra assembly and bypolls to 4 LS and 39 Vidhan Sabha seats.

Amid sporadic violence that left three persons dead, an estimated 50 per cent voters on Wednesday exercised their franchise for 288-member Maharashtra Assembly and by-polls to four Lok Sabha and 39 Vidhan Sabha seats spread across 16 states.

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Two persons were killed in poll-related violence in Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency and one in Atrauli assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh where by-polls were held along with 11 other assembly seats.

Barring an attack by insurgents on a police patrol in Naxal-infested Godchiroli district in Vidarbha region, balloting was peaceful for Maharashtra Assembly polls -- the first major face-off between the ruling Congress-NCP and the Opposition BJP-Shiv Sena after the UPA government assumed power at the Centre.

A policeman was injured in the Naxal attack, police said adding an IAF chopper narrowly escaped a grenade attack at the same place on Tuesday evening.

Voting began on a dull note, but picked up as the day progressed with voters lining up before polling stations to participate in the democratic process.