April 26th 2024.
On April 19, the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections saw a voter turnout of 60.96 per cent. The second phase, which took place on Friday, covered 88 seats across 13 states and saw an even higher voter turnout of 61 per cent. The Election Commission reported that the polling was largely peaceful, with only a few complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some states.
However, there were some areas where voters initially decided to boycott the polls due to various issues. In villages in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani, voters were hesitant to cast their votes. But with the help of authorities and persuasion, they eventually exercised their right to vote.
Polling began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, with intense heat conditions in many states. The National Democratic Alliance, led by Prime Minister Modi, is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term. On the other hand, the opposition INDIA bloc is hoping for a rebound after facing setbacks in the past two elections.
According to the Election Commission's data, the highest voter turnout was recorded in Tripura and Manipur, with 78.53 per cent and 77.18 per cent respectively. In Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the turnout was 53.71 per cent and 53.84 per cent respectively. The second phase also saw polling in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.
Some of the key candidates in this phase include Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Several BJP candidates, including Hema Malini, Om Birla, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, are seeking a third consecutive win from their respective constituencies.
Before the polling began, Prime Minister Modi urged people to vote in record numbers, emphasizing the importance of each vote. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi also issued appeals for people to exercise their franchise.
After the polling ended, Modi expressed his gratitude to the people who voted and said that the NDA's strong support from youth and women voters will disappoint the opposition even more.
In Kerala, the turnout was 65.23 per cent, with the election process taking place under tight security arrangements. However, there were some incidents of bogus voting and EVM breakdowns in certain booths, leading to delays in the polling process. Tragically, four people, including a polling agent, passed away after casting their votes.
In Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, a turnout of 78.48 per cent was recorded. Though there were a few complaints from some booths, the Election Commission promptly addressed them. In Madhya Pradesh, a jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force, deployed on poll duty, allegedly committed suicide. The state also saw a voter turnout of 55.77 per cent.
Assam recorded a turnout of 70.68 per cent, while Manipur saw a high turnout of 77.18 per cent. However, there were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercations between political party workers, and damage to an EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district.
In Karnataka, the overall turnout was 64.85 per cent, with some incidents of violence and clashes between political party workers. The Election Commission also booked BJP leaders Tejasvi Surya and CT Ravi for allegedly violating election rules.
In Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the turnout was 53.84 per cent and 62.46 per cent respectively. There were reports of confrontations between Congress and independent party supporters in some places in the Barmer-Jaisalmer constituency. Police are looking into the complaints, including fake voting, and will take necessary action.
In addition to the Lok Sabha elections, the by-election for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district also took place, with a turnout of 73.25 per cent. In Uttar Pradesh, the turnout was 53.71 per cent, with senior citizens dominating the early hours of voting in Noida. Some residents' welfare associations even arranged for electric vehicles to transport voters to and from the polling booths.
In Bihar, the turnout was 54.91 per cent, while West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir saw turnouts of 71.84 per cent and 71.21 per cent respectively. This is the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union territories.
The Election Commission received nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctions. After the second phase, polling is now complete in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tripura. The third phase will take place on May 7, covering 94 seats across 12 states and Union territories. The results will be announced on June 4.
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