High voter turnout of more than 57% in fifth phase of elections.

On Monday, citizens across six states and two Union territories headed to the polls to cast their votes in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election. The overall turnout was recorded at over 57 per cent, with West Bengal leading the pack with a whopping 73 per cent polling percentage. However, despite the high turnout, there were sporadic incidents of violence reported in West Bengal, and some technical glitches with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in both West Bengal and neighboring Odisha.

Among the states that went to the polls, Maharashtra recorded the lowest turnout at 48.88 per cent, while Ladakh recorded the highest at 67.15 per cent. In other states, Bihar saw a turnout of 52.55 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 54.21 per cent, Jharkhand 63 per cent, Odisha 60.72 per cent, and Uttar Pradesh 57.43 per cent. The total polling percentage, according to the Election Commission, was at 57.38 per cent by 7 pm.

Despite the official voting time being until 6 pm, those already in line at that time were still allowed to cast their votes. In Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, the voter turnout was over 54 per cent, making it the highest turnout in almost four decades. The overall polling percentage of 54.21 per cent is second only to the 58.84 per cent turnout seen in 1984.

Unfortunately, the day was not without its fair share of incidents. In West Bengal, clashes between TMC and BJP workers were reported in various parts of Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh seats. The Election Commission received 1,036 complaints from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctioning and agents being prevented from entering polling booths.

In the Khanakul area of the Arambagh constituency, clashes broke out between TMC and BJP supporters. In neighboring Hooghly constituency, BJP candidate Locket Chatterjee faced protests from TMC activists led by TMC MLA Ashima Patra. Things escalated when Chatterjee was on her way to a booth, and TMC activists staged a protest and shouted slogans against her. A large police and central forces contingent rushed to the spot to diffuse the situation.

Similar incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the Howrah constituency, where the BJP accused TMC workers of booth jamming. In the Liluah area of Howrah, the central police forces were called in to disperse the crowds.

In Bongaon constituency, a local BJP leader was allegedly beaten by TMC supporters outside a polling booth. In another incident, Union Minister and BJP candidate Shantanu Thakur caught a person using the identity card of his rival TMC candidate Biswajit Das inside a polling booth. The person was later removed from the booth by central forces.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress claimed EVM malfunctioning and accused the BJP of not allowing people to cast their votes in three booths in Bela Khara village in Rahi block. The Congress party's Uttar Pradesh unit took to social media to post about the issue and expressed their concerns about the impact it may have on the overall voter turnout.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray raised concerns about the facilities outside the polling booths, with many voters complaining about the lack of basic amenities like shade and fans. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Raut and Sunil Raut were found involved in corrupt practices outside their polling booth in Mumbai. However, the Raut brothers denied these allegations and claimed that the police had removed a dummy EVM that was placed outside the 100-meter radius of the polling booth for educational purposes.

In Odisha, some unidentified persons allegedly hacked an auto-rickshaw driver to death near Sarsara in Bargarh district. The deceased was transporting voters to the polling booth, and while the family claims it was a political murder, the police state that it was due to personal enmity. EVM glitches were also reported in some areas of Odisha.

Overall, over 8.95 crore people, including 4.26 crore females and 5,409 third-gender electors, were eligible to vote in this phase. The Election Commission deployed 9.47 lakh polling officials across 94,732 polling stations. With polling for 23 states and Union territories and 379 seats now completed, the nation eagerly awaits the results of this crucial election.

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