New Delhi - India's monthlong staggered general election entered its second and biggest phase Thursday with an expected 200 million more voters going to the polls amid tight security arrangements to prevent attacks by Maoist insurgents.

Voters started trickling into booths in as many as 141 constituencies across 12 states from 7 am (0000 GMT) for the latest round of the five-stage elections, the world's largest democratic exercise.

Private sector lender Yes Bank on Wednesday informed that its net profit rose 24.20% to Rs 80.11 crore in the quarter ended March 2009 as against Rs 64.50 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2008.

In addition, the lender's total operating income also grew 46.44% to Rs 566.31 crore in the quarter ended March 2009 as against Rs 386.73 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2008.

For the full year, bank's net profit surged by 51.90% to Rs 303.84 crore in the year ended March 2009 as against Rs 200.02 crore during the previous year ended March
2008.

New Delhi, Apr 22: Hundreds of school children formed a human chain here on Wednesday to spread awareness amongst people about the importance of voting.

The event was organised with the sole aim of soliciting responsible participation from the citizens in the ongoing elections.

Eminent personalities present during the occasion included Saba Karim, the veteran Indian cricketer, Manjit Dua, table tennis player, Madhumita Bhist, the badminton player and singer Malini Awasthi.

New Delhi, April 22 : Polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on Thursday.

In this phase, the election will be held in 141 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across 13 states and Union Territories.

Polling is underway for the Inner Manipur (valley districts) Lok Sabha seat constituency.

The elections will also be completed in the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh (140 seats) and Orissa (77 seats).

New Delhi, Apr 22 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former Union Minister Sukhram, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment, in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

On February 25, a Delhi court had sentenced Sukhram to three years imprisonment in the case. A court also imposed a fine of Rs two lakh on Sukhram.

The court had suspended his sentence for two months giving an opportunity for him to appeal in the High Court against his conviction.

New Delhi, Apr 22 : Zac Efron's first movie after `High School Musical' franchise-17 Again-opened to a huge response, and from here the actor is carefully planning his next move.

The 21-year-old actor has said that he is thinking very carefully before taking up a new project in hand, reports The China Daily.

"I''m looking very carefully at the movies being offered," said Efron on the eve of the opening of `17 Again'.

He added: "It''s about taking my fan base with me but then doing movies that open me up to a broader level."