Leh/Srinagar, May 6 (IANS) Polling began on Monday for Ladakh and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Enthusiastic voters started pouring out to throng the polling stations in Leh and Kargil districts.

Meanwhile, voting is yet to begin in one polling booths in Rahul Gandhi's constituency of Amethi and two booths in Raebareli, the seat represented by his mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. A voting centre in Howrah in West Bengal also reported glitches in EVMs and VVPATs.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Rajyavardhan Rathore -- both contesting in the the fifth phase -- were among the early voters. 

Nearly 700 candidates are contesting for the 51 seats spread across seven states in phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 today. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and six union ministers are some of the prominent candidates whose fate will be decided by over 8 crore voters in the seven states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to turnout in record numbers to cast their votes for the 51 seats that are voting today. "A vote is the most effective way to enrich our democracy and contribute to India's better future," PM tweeted early this morning.

While 149 candidates have been fielded by national parties, 31 are representing state parties, and 252 candidates are contesting independently, Association for Democratic Reforms said.