Voting began at 7 am today in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

In Maharashtra, it is a five-cornered battle for 288 seats with the BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP and the MNS all trying to win the state for itself.

In Haryana, which has 90 seats, the BJP faces the ruling Congress and a  resurgent Indian National Lok Dal, which is headed by the 79-year-old O P Chautala.