May 13th 2024.
Today, the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in India is in full swing, with 96 constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories participating. As of 1pm, the voter turnout has been recorded at over 40%, which is already higher than the previous three phases. However, amidst the excitement of exercising their democratic right, there have been a few incidents of violence and malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) reported in some areas.
According to the Election Commission, the current voter turnout stands at 40.32%, with voting starting at 7am and scheduled to continue until 6pm. The state with the lowest turnout so far is Jammu and Kashmir, with only 23.57% of registered voters casting their vote by 1pm. On the other hand, West Bengal has seen the highest turnout at 51.87%. Other states that have seen significant voter turnout include Andhra Pradesh (40.26%), Bihar (34.44%), Jharkhand (43.80%), Madhya Pradesh (48.52%), Maharashtra (30.85%), Odisha (39.30%), Telangana (40.38%), and Uttar Pradesh (39.68%).
Unfortunately, there have been reports of violence in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, with leaders from the YSRCP and TDP parties accusing each other. In Tenali, a voter was allegedly manhandled by YSRCP leader and MLA A Shiva Kumar after a heated argument. In another incident, an EVM was destroyed in Dalavaipalli village, and cars belonging to the ruling party and TDP were damaged. A TDP agent was also attacked in Nakkaladinne village, leading to his hospitalization.
The YSRCP has alleged that one of their party agents was stabbed in Mandi Krishnapuram village, and another party member was attacked in Aravallipadu village. On the other hand, TDP MLC Mohammed Ahmed Shariff has written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, complaining about attacks on TDP supporters by YSRCP cadres in Rentala village.
In Uttar Pradesh, there have been instances of poll boycott in some villages of Shahjahanpur, where people are protesting against the lack of roads and development in their area. Similarly, in West Bengal, there have been complaints of EVM malfunctioning, agents being denied entry into polling booths, and voters being threatened or stopped from casting their vote.
The Election Commission has received a total of 1,088 complaints from various political parties about EVM malfunctioning and agents being stopped from entering polling booths. In Odisha, there have been several reports of EVM glitches, and the Election Commission has replaced 65 Ballot Units, 83 Control Units, and 110 VVPATs so far. In a step towards ensuring fair elections, the Commission has also suspended two polling officials in Odisha for dereliction of duty.
In Jharkhand, security forces successfully thwarted an attempt by Maoists to disrupt the voting process by blocking a road leading to remote areas in West Singhbhum district. Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the Abdullah family, spanning three generations, has cast their votes in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
With a total of 1,717 candidates in the fray and over 17.70 crore eligible voters, including 8.73 crore women, this phase of the Lok Sabha elections is crucial in shaping the future of the country. Voting is taking place in all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, all 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh, 13 seats in Uttar Pradesh, five seats in Bihar, four seats in Jharkhand, eight seats in Madhya Pradesh, 11 seats in Maharashtra, four seats in Odisha, eight seats in West Bengal, and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.
After the completion of this phase, polling will have taken place in a total of 379 seats out of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first three phases of the elections saw a voter turnout of 66.14%, 66.71%, and 65.68%, respectively. The next three phases are scheduled for May 20, May 25, and June 1, with the counting of votes taking place on June 4. With so much at stake, it is crucial for every eligible citizen to exercise their right to vote and make their voice heard.
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