Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 5 Sees High Voter Turnout in West Bengal and UP

As the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 unfolds, 49 constituencies across six states and two Union territories are witnessing an intense voting process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have both made impassioned appeals to voters, emphasizing the importance of participation in shaping the country’s future.

Voter Turnout Highlights

By 11 AM, the Election Commission of India reported a voter turnout of 23.6% across the 49 seats. West Bengal led with a significant 33% turnout, followed by Ladakh with 27.8%, Uttar Pradesh with 27.7%, and Jharkhand with 26%. Notably, the Baramulla seat in Jammu & Kashmir recorded a turnout of 21.3%, while Maharashtra lagged with 16%.

Electoral Dynamics

The overall voter turnout in the first four phases stands at 66.95%, according to the ECI. Today’s polling spans key states including Uttar Pradesh (14 seats), Maharashtra (13 seats), West Bengal (7 seats), Bihar (5 seats), Odisha (5 seats), and Jharkhand (3 seats), along with one seat each in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The turnout for the fifth phase is expected to significantly influence the electoral landscape, with many prominent leaders contesting.

High-Profile Contests

Key candidates in this phase include Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli, UP), Smriti Irani (Amethi, UP), Rajnath Singh (Lucknow, UP), Karan Bhushan Singh (Kaiserganj, UP), Rohini Acharya (Saran, Bihar), Chirag Paswan (Hajipur, Bihar), Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), Ujjwal Nikam (Mumbai North-Central), and Omar Abdullah (Baramulla, J&K).

In addition to the Lok Sabha elections, 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha are also voting today. This phase includes over 8.95 crore eligible voters, with a significant number of senior citizens and third-gender electors participating.

Security and Complaints

Approximately 9.47 lakh polling officials have been deployed across 94,732 polling stations to ensure a smooth voting process. Despite these measures, West Bengal has reported around 471 complaints regarding malfunctioning EVMs, polling agents being obstructed, and voters facing threats.

Political Allegations

Tensions are high in West Bengal, with BJP MP Arjun Singh accusing TMC candidate Partha Bhowmick of distributing money to influence voters. Singh emphasized the importance of peaceful elections but warned of repercussions if electoral malpractices continued.

Historical Context and Future Implications

In the 2019 elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 39 of the 49 seats contested in this phase, while the Congress and its allies secured eight seats. The BJP aims to secure a record third term under Prime Minister Modi, targeting 400 seats in this election. The opposition, led by the Congress and united under the INDIA bloc, is striving to challenge this dominance.

With the completion of phase 5, elections for over three-fourths of the 543 Lok Sabha seats will be concluded. The remaining phases are scheduled for May 25 and June 1, with the vote counting set for June 4.

The political landscape is dynamic, and the outcomes of these elections will significantly impact India’s future direction. As voters continue to exercise their democratic right, the anticipation builds for the final results that will shape the nation’s political trajectory for the coming years.