Polling picked up after a dull start in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. The turnout in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya was moderate and the exercise peaceful despite militants' threats.

Voting for bye-elections in seven assembly constituencies spread across six states began on a brisk note amidst tight security.

An estimated 10 to 15 per cent polling was reported in Himachal till 1100 IST.

About 10 per cent polling was recorded in Shimla district, 15 per cent in Kangra district, 12 per cent Sirmaur district, nine per cent in Bilasput, 10 per cent in Mandi district and only four per cent in Chamba district, election commission sources said.

The polling was 10 per cent in Rampur, 20 per cent in Rohru, 18 per cent in Chopal and 15 per cent in Theog.

About 20 per cent polling was reported in Solan constituency while highest polling of 21 per cent was recorded in Gagret constituency in Una district.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal cast his vote at Hamirpur in his Bamsan constituency while former chief minister Virbhadra Singh exercised his franchise at Rampur.

A report from Agartala said an estimated 32 per cent votes had been cast in Tripura in the first three hours.

Polling for the 60-member Nagaland assembly began on a moderate note amidst tight security and people queued up in large numbers outside booths in Kohima even before the start of balloting.

In Meghalaya, people lined up in front of polling station before the start of polling at 0700 IST.

An estimated 10 to 15 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Haidergarh and Gaurigang assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and in Bhokarden in Maharashtra.

In Tamil Nadu's Sattankulam constituency, nearly 20 per cent of the electorate cast their ballots in the first three hours.

Inclement weather contributed to the dull turnout of voters in Pampore constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police arrested seven All-Party Hurriyat Conference activists, Javed Ahmad Mir and Khalil Mohammed Khalil, in Srinagar. They had planned to travel to Pampore to protest against the bypoll.

Voting for Ratnabari constituency in Assam's Karimganj district was moderate and peaceful while in Humnabad seat in Karnataka, about 10 per cent votes were cast till 1030 IST.