Fifth Phase: Voting Underway in 49 LS Seats, 10.28% Turnout in First Two Hours!
The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections is underway, with voting taking place in 49 LS seats. In the first two hours, there has already been a 10.28% turnout, indicating a strong start to this crucial phase of the elections. This video provides a detailed look at the early voting statistics, the atmosphere at the polling booths, and insights into the electoral process as it unfolds.
Fifth Phase: Voting Underway in 49 Lok Sabha Seats
Voting is underway in 49 Lok Sabha seats, with a 10.28 percent turnout in the first two hours.
Voting is currently taking place for 49 Lok Sabha seats, with a turnout of 10.28 percent recorded in the first two hours.
New Delhi: Approximately 10.28% Voter Turnout in First Two Hours
In the initial two hours of polling on Monday, an approximate voter turnout of 10.28% was recorded in 49 constituencies across six states and two Union Territories during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Voting Trends: Maharashtra Lowest, West Bengal Highest
As of 9 am, Maharashtra saw the lowest voter turnout at 6.33%, while West Bengal recorded the highest percentage of voting with 15.35%.
In addition to Maharashtra and West Bengal, here are the voter turnout percentages for other states:
- Bihar: 8.86%
- Jammu and Kashmir: 7.63%
- Jharkhand: 11.68%
- Ladakh: 10.51%
- Odisha: 6.87%
- Uttar Pradesh: 12.89%
Prominent early voters included Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das, BSP chief Mayawati, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, and industrialist Anil Ambani.
"I urge all voters to vote... this is a right in our parliamentary democracy, and everyone should exercise it,” Das told PTI after voting at a polling center near his official residence in south Mumbai.
Good Turnout at Polling Booths in Mumbai
Polling booths in many parts of Mumbai witnessed a strong turnout.
Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar, Rajkummar Rao, and Jahnvi Kapoor were among the early voters in Mumbai.
"I want my India to be developed and strong. I kept these things in mind when I went to cast my vote. All Indians should think about what is right for them and vote,” Kumar said after voting at a polling station in Juhu.
Akhtar, while waiting in line at a polling station in Bandra West, told PTI, “My vote is for good governance, a government that looks after all the people and gives us a better city.”
Congress Leaders Urge High Voter Turnout
As voting commenced, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra encouraged voters to participate in large numbers.
In a post on X in Hindi, Kharge stated, "To safeguard democracy and the Constitution, we must vote. Before pressing the button on the EVM, remember to vote for love and unity, not hatred."
"We must vote against unemployment and inflation, not to enrich a few capitalists. Our vote should be for the protection of our fundamental rights, not for those who take them away," added the Congress president.
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, remarked that it is evident that people are rising to defend the Constitution and democracy, and the nation is experiencing a wave of change.
Calls for High Voter Turnout and Peaceful Voting
"The people are participating in this election alongside INDIA, and there is a wave of change in the country," stated the former Congress president.
"I appeal to the entire nation, including Amethi and Rae Bareli, to come out and vote in large numbers for the prosperity of your families, for your own rights, and for the progress of India," Gandhi added.
Voting began peacefully in West Bengal, where the Election Commission removed a BSF jawan from poll duty in Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency following a complaint of molestation against him, an official said.
A woman lodged the molestation complaint at Uluberia Police Station on Sunday evening, he said.
“We have removed him from election duty. We are waiting for the police report. If found guilty, necessary action will be taken as per law,” the poll panel official told PTI.
Significance of Today's Polls
Today's poll will determine the fate of several prominent leaders, including former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.
Over 8.95 crore people, including 4.26 crore females and 5,409 third-gender electors, are eligible to vote in this round, with 9.47 lakh polling officials deployed across 94,732 polling stations.
Among the seats up for grabs, 13 are in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha, one in Jammu and Kashmir, and the lone seat in Ladakh. This round covers the least number of seats in the seven-phase polls.
Voting is also taking place in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is among the candidates.
Progress Update on Polling
Polling for 23 states and Union territories and 379 seats has been completed thus far.
The sixth and seventh phases are scheduled for May 25 and June 1 respectively. Vote counting will take place on June 4.
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