Today marked the commencement of polling in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections across 49 constituencies spanning six states and two union territories. As of 9 am, a voter turnout of 23.66 % was reported.
This phase holds significant electoral battles, with prominent leaders such as former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah contesting for their respective constituencies.
Among the constituencies in contention, 13 are situated in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha, one in Jammu & Kashmir, and one in Ladakh. Notably, the outcome of this phase bears importance for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which holds over 40 of the contested seats.
Union Minister Smriti Irani cast her vote in her hometown, Amethi, emphasizing the significance of voter participation in shaping the nation’s future. Similarly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged voters across the country to exercise their franchise.
Several political leaders, including BSP chief Mayawati and key candidates like Piyush Goyal, actively participated in the electoral process by casting their votes early in the day. Bollywood personalities like Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar, and Zoya Akhtar, along with industrialist Anil Ambani, also exercised their democratic rights.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens across the contested constituencies to vote in large numbers through posts on social media platforms. The electoral scenario witnessed a variety of contests, with candidates from different political spectrums vying for victory.
Key battlegrounds included Bihar, where the voter turnout stood at 21.11 per cent by 11 am. In Jammu & Kashmir, 21.37 per cent of voters had cast their ballots by the same time, with a significant contest unfolding in the Baramulla constituency.
Jharkhand recorded a voter turnout of 26.18 per cent, while Ladakh witnessed 27.87 per cent participation. Maharashtra saw a voter turnout of 15.93 per cent, while Odisha registered 21.07 per cent. In Uttar Pradesh, the voter turnout stood at 27.76 per cent, with several high-profile contests shaping up in constituencies like Amethi and Lucknow.
West Bengal witnessed a voter turnout of 32.70 per cent, with heightened security measures in place due to past instances of poll-related violence. Key contests unfolded in constituencies such as Barrackpore, Hooghly, and Serampore.
The electoral process, which began earlier in the year, continues to unfold across the nation, with subsequent phases scheduled to take place on May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes is slated for June 4.
