Altogether 1,715 candidates, including 122 women, are in the fray for the first phase of polling in 124 Lok Sabha constituencies scheduled to be held on April 16.

In Andhra Pradesh, where polling will be held in 22 constituencies, 315 candidates are in the fray of whom 25 are women.

The highest number of 32 candidates each are contesting in Mehboobnagar (Andhra Pradesh) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh) constituencies, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters here.

Interestingly, there are five women candidates each in both these constituencies.

As many as 271 candidates, including 12 women, are contesting in 16 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in the first phase of polling.

In Kerala, where polls will be held in all 20 constituencies in the first phase, there are 217 candidates of which 15 are women.

Altogether 223 candidates are in the fray in Bihar's 13 constituencies where polling will he held in the first phase of the elections.

In Maharashtra, where 13 constituencies will go to poll in the first phase, 246 candidates, including 14 women are in the fray. (MORE)

There are 178 candidates in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh where elections will be held in the first phase on April 16.

In Orissa, where polling will be held in 10 constituencies in the first phase, there are 72 candidates, including five women.

Of the six constituencies in Jharkhand, there are 85 candidates, of whom six are women.

In Assam, of the three constituencies where polling will take place in the first phase, there are 37 candidates while in the two Lok Sabha seats of Arunachal Pradesh, there are eight men in the fray.

In Meghalaya's two constituencies, there are 11 candidates of whom three are women.

There are 21 candidates, including one woman, who are fighting for the one constituency in Jammu and Kashmir where polling will be held in the first phase.

As many as 11 candidates are in the fray in the lone constituency in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and four candidates in Lakshadweep seat while in one constituency in Manipur, there are nine candidates in the fray.

Balakrishnan said the Election Commission was making concerted efforts to improve the percentage of votes cast through postal ballot.

"This is one area of concern for the Commission," he said.