Rahul Gandhi: Big hit with the crowds

The two states are considered to be crucial in determining the outcome of the election, with earlier intensive campaigning by all the main parties.

Latest polls suggest the government will have most seats in parliament, but not an overall majority.

Turnout on Monday was estimated by the Election Commission to be around 60%.

Exit polls

Provisional estimates released by the Election Commission suggest that around 103m people exercised their right to vote on Monday in states which included India's Hindi heartland, or Hindi belt.

We don't expect voters to turn up, but we have to do our duty and be here Kashmir polling officer How the voting went In pictures: India votes

"It is a very tentative projection that the overall percentage is around 55 to 60%," said Commission spokesman AN Jha.

Nearly half the electorate voted in Uttar Pradesh where 32 out 80 seats went to polls on Monday.

There were sporadic incidents of violence across the country, with at least eight people killed and more than 100 injured.

Mr Jha said that overall the vote had been peaceful, but there had been some problems with electronic voting machines that were either stolen or damaged.

More than 25% of the electorate in 11 states was eligible to take part in Monday's vote.

Polling has been staggered over four main stages, with another two to be held in the coming weeks.

The result is due to be declared on 13 May.

Monday's polling took place as India's Supreme Court refused to stop the publication or broadcast of exit polls.

Polls taken after voting finished suggest the BJP-led government will have the most seats in parliament despite advances made by the opposition Congress Party.

He [Rahul] has to be strong enough to stand up to his convictions and values Priyanka Gandhi, sister Holy city goes to polls The riddle of Rahul Gandhi

Uttar Pradesh sends more members to parliament than any other state in India, and most Indian prime ministers have been elected from there.

Attention was focused on Amethi - the constituency from where Rahul Gandhi is hoping to make his debut in parliament.

He is the fourth generation of India's most influential political dynasty. Three out of the 12 Indian prime ministers so far have been from this family.

Violence

Once again, there was a huge security presence at polling stations across the country.

Violence was reported in a number of states, including

• Jharkhand, where a policeman and a teacher on election duty were killed in landmine explosions.

  Views from voters in Karnataka In pictures

• Uttar Pradesh, where exchanges of fire between rival groups outside a polling station killed one man and injured four others.

• Jammu and Kashmir where two grenade attacks carried out by suspected Islamic militants on polling stations injured two policemen and a number of civilians.

• Andhra Pradesh, where 80,000 police are trying to prevent attacks by Maoist rebels. Two people were killed and more than 100 wounded in separate clashes between Congress party supporters and members of the Telugu Desam Party.

• Bihar, where police say a man was killed and more than 10 others injured in separate incidents, including group clashes in at least 10 constituencies.

• Manipur, where four people were reported killed in election-related violence, which included an attack on a polling station.

'Feel-good factor'

Correspondents say Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has played down its Hindu nationalist agenda during the election campaign to try to win over India's Muslims.

Voting 20, 26 April and 5, 10 May Counting of votes on 13 May 675 million eligible to vote 543 MPs elected for five years 1 million voting machines Log up to five votes a minute Voting timetable in detail Gearing up for electronic vote

The BJP, which now governs in coalition, wants an overall majority in parliament and is looking to take advantage of what it says is the "feel-good factor" in the country.

The BJP says that a booming economy and recent peace overtures with Pakistan have contributed to the sense of well-being.

But the opposition says that many people in rural areas still live in poverty, and that the peace process with Pakistan has brought few long-term benefits.

Congress also argues that the BJP is undermining India's secular tradition.

The voting on Monday is the second big test for electronic voting machines, which are being used throughout the country for the first time.