Voting underway across 93 seats, PM Narendra Modi casts his vote in Ahmedabad

The voting process commenced at 7 am and it is expected to continue till 5 pm.

Over 17.24 crore voters -- 8.85 crore male and 8.39 crore female -- are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase of the crucial Indian election which also saw Indian PM Narendra Modi, who is eyeing his third straight return to power, cast his vote in Ahmedabad.

Voters will seal the fates of more than 1,300 candidates, including approximately 120 women, in this round of polling.

On Tuesday, elections are being held for 25 seats in Gujarat, 14 seats in Karnataka, eight seats in Madhya Pradesh, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, four each in West Bengal and Assam, five seats in Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, two seats each in Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.

Home Minister Amit Shah (Gandhi Nagar), Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar) and Union Minister Parshottam Singh Rupala (Rajkot). Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav (Mainpuri) and BJP veteran former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) are some of the prominent names fighting the poll battle in the third phase.

Voting for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu & Kashmir has been postponed to the sixth phase following logistical issues, while in Gujarat’s Surat, Mukesh Dalal of the BJP has already secured victory uncontested after issues over the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani, reported UNI news agency.

Around 18.5 lakh Polling officials are presiding in this phase to ensure smooth conduct of election.

There are over 14.04 lakh registered 85+ years old, 39,599 voters above 100 years and 15.66 lakh PwD voters for phase 3 who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. The optional Home Voting facility is already receiving tremendous appreciation and response.

264 Observers (101 General Observers, 54 Police Observers, 109 Expenditure Observers) have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls.

A total of 4303 Flying Squads, 5534 Static Surveillance Teams, 1987 Video Surveillance Teams and 949 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.

A total of 1041 inter-state and 275 international Border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

Narendra Modi urges people to vote

Indian PM Narendra Modi urged people to vote in this phase and posted on X: "Urging all those who are voting in today’s phase to vote in record numbers. Their active participation will certainly make the elections more vibrant."