Lucknow, Apr 28: An estimated 23 per cent of the electorate exercised its franchise till 1300 hours today in the crucial fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 57 constituencies spread across nine districts under unprecedented security cover.

State additional chief electoral officer (CEO) Devesh Chaturvedi told sources here that till 1300 hrs, about 23 per cent of the voters had used their franchise.

''No untoward incident has been reported so far even though some early technical problems were received of non-functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs),'' he said.

Till 1100 hours, the voting percentage was 15.01 per cent while till 1200 hrs, it was around 19 per cent.

Meanwhile, deputy election commissioner J P Prakash airdashed to Chitrakoot to monitor the polling process which is also known as the domain of dacoit Dadua.

''The deputy EC has reached the Manikpur constituency in Chitrakoot district and later, he is also expected in nearby Naraini seat where family members of dacoits are constesting'', said a senior EC official.

In the state capital, long queques were being witnessed particularly in the old city areas.

Sources said preliminary teething troubles were reported from several places due to non-functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but all the EVMs were changed immediately.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and BSP supremo Mayawati cast their votes in Lucknow(east) assembly seat this morning before they started their election campaigning for the last two phases of the elections.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was expected to reach here to cast his vote, has cancelled his visit following health problem.

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UNI