May 7th 2024.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, the 23rd of April, the Indian people exercised their right to vote in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This phase covers 93 constituencies in 11 states and Union Territories. The polls opened at 7am and will continue until 6pm. Over 1,300 candidates, including approximately 120 women, are competing in this phase. Some of the notable names include Union ministers Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Pralhad Joshi, and SP Singh Baghel.
The first two phases saw voting in 189 out of 543 seats, leaving 354 seats to be decided in the remaining four phases, which will take place on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The results of the elections will be announced on June 4.
One of the most talked-about races is the battle for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra. The Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar were among the early voters in this constituency. Sharad Pawar was welcomed with a traditional "aarti" as he arrived at a polling booth in Malegaon area. Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar cast their votes at a polling booth in Katewadi area.
However, not all villages in India participated in the polls. In the village of Dhoranpur in Uttar Pradesh, the villagers boycotted the voting to protest against the leaders' neglect of their demand for a road. In response, the District Magistrate Manoj Kumar sent a sub-divisional magistrate to address the issue. Similarly, in three villages in Firozabad, Nagla Jawahar, Neem Kheria, and Nagla Umar, not a single vote was cast as the villagers attempted to draw attention to their problems.
Unfortunately, incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal during the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Clashes between workers of TMC, BJP, and Congress were reported in Murshidabad and Jangipur seats. The Election Commission received 182 complaints, most of which were from these two constituencies. In Murshidabad, Left-Congress candidate Mohammed Salim claimed to have caught a "fake booth agent" in Rabinagar area. However, he faced resistance from TMC supporters as he tried to enter a booth following allegations of CPI booth agents being harassed. Salim stated that the TMC had created a "reign of terror" in the constituency and urged the Election Commission to take strict action. Meanwhile, in Karimpur, clashes broke out between TMC and CPI supporters, while clashes between TMC and Congress activists were reported in Domkol area. In Jangipur, BJP candidate Dhanajoy Ghosh faced protests from TMC cadres as he attempted to enter some booths.
In Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among the early voters. While PM Modi cast his vote in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Shah voted in Ahmedabad. Polling took place in 25 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, along with by-polls in five assembly constituencies.
Tragically, two government officials on Lok Sabha poll duty in Karnataka passed away due to heart attacks. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Bhagwanth Khuba, and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge were among the early voters in Karnataka. Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, along with his sons and daughters-in-law, also cast their votes in Shikaripura.
In Assam, people braved the rain to cast their votes in large numbers across four Lok Sabha constituencies. As of 1pm, the voter turnout was recorded at 45.88%. Similarly, in Bihar, 36.69% of the 98 lakh voters exercised their franchise in five Lok Sabha constituencies by 1pm. In Chhattisgarh, a voter turnout of 46.14% was recorded by 1pm in seven out of 11 Lok Sabha constituencies. The polls in these states are proceeding smoothly and peacefully.
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