Smriti Irani, BJP candidate in Amethi constituency, challenging Preeti Sahay, Political Secretary to Priyanka Gandhi outside a polling booth in Amethi on Wednesday.

Smt Vadra's secretary Priti Sahay at Thouri not a local still vocal in opposing my presence at the booth. pic.twitter.com/Uo8uHBbyYm - Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 7, 2014

As Amethi votes, a controversy has erupted with the BJP candidate, Smriti Irani , complaining that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political secretary was trying to influence voters and had entered a polling station without clearance from the Election Commission.Ms Irani is running against Priyanka's older brother, Rahul Gandhi , who is fronting the Congress campaign for the national election.Priyanka's political secretary, Preeti Sahay, has been asked to leave Amethi by election officials. In a video, Ms Irani is seen asking the aide, "What are you doing here? You are not allowed to be in the constituency now." (Elections 2014: Track Live Updates People not registered to vote in a constituency and those from outside canvassing for candidates have to leave once campaigning ends, according to Election Commission rules.Rahul Gandhi has represented Amethi in parliament since 2004. This time around, his family's monolithic hold on the constituency is being seriously challenged for the first time in years by Ms Irani and Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party. ( Rahul Visits Amethi on Polling Day, Rebuts Modi on 'Neech Rajniti' Row The high-stakes battle has made this a volatile day for Amethi.Ms Irani has alleged in a series of tweets that a local Congress leader had intimidated a BJP polling agent at a polling booth in Amethi.Earlier this morning Mr Gandhi complained to the Election Commission after spotting a lotus, the BJP's poll symbol, sketched on a blackboard in a class room that was being used for voting in Amethi. ( Rahul Gandhi Objects to Lotus Sketch in Amethi Polling Station Mr Gandhi is touring Amethi extensively on polling day for the first time in 10 years. The Aam Aadmi Party has complained against him for traveling with 24 vehicles on polling day, but Congress workers say he wants to ensure there is no poll violation.

The Aam Aadmi Party also complained to the Election Commission that several booths in Amethi had been captured by the Congress.But the poll panel found the charge to be unfounded after verification and said voting was progressing peacefully.