LIVE | Phase 3 of Lok Sabha polls records 61.78% voter turnout
x
A police officer stands guard as voters wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Sangli. Photo: PTI

LIVE | Phase 3 of Lok Sabha polls records 61.78% voter turnout

The highest polling was recorded in Assam (75.30 per cent) while Maharashtra at 55.21 per cent accounted for the lowest voter turnout


The third phase of polls to 93 Lok Sabha constituencies across 11 states and Union territories on Tuesday (May 7) recorded a voter turnout of 61.78 per cent.

The maximum polling was witnessed in Assam which logged a voter turnout of 75.30 per cent, followed by Goa (74.47 per cent) and West Bengal (73.93 per cent). Maharashtra recorded the lowest at 55.21 per cent, according to Election Commission.

The voting percentage Gujarat was 56.91 per cent, Karnataka 68.82 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 63.67 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 57.34 per cent, , Bihar 56.55 per cent, Chhattisgarh 67.24 per cent, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 65.23 per cent.

The voting started at 7 am. While the official time for voting to end is 6 pm, it went beyond the fixed polling hours to enable several voters waiting in queues at polling stations to exercise their franchise.

As many as 17.24 crore people, including 8.39 crore females, were eligible to vote in this phase and 1.85 lakh polling stations manned by 18.5 lakh officials had been set up.

PM Modi votes in third phase

Until 6 pm a voter turnout of 55.22 per cent was recorded in 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among those who exercised their franchise the state. While Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Shah voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad.

Shah (Gandhinagar) is among the bigwigs in the fray in this phase along with Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra).

Akhilesh alleges ‘booth looting’ in UP

In Uttar Pradesh, where several members of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are contesting, close to 55.13 per cent polling was recorded in 10 seats till 6 pm.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP workers were trying to "loot booths" in Mainpuri and people from opposition parties were being detained in police stations.

Yadav cast his vote in Saifai (Etawah) in Mainpuri constituency where his wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav is contesting.

Among other states, Chhattisgarh recorded 66.87 per cent polling, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 65.23 per cent, Goa 72.52 per cent, Karnataka 66.05 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh 62.28 per cent, according to the EC.

Violence in West Bengal

Sporadic incidents of violence marred the third phase of Lok Sabha polls in four constituencies in West Bengal as TMC, BJP and Congress-CPI(M) workers clashed with each other in various parts of Murshidabad and Jangipur seats.

According to officials, Murshidabad registered the highest voter turnout of 76.49 per cent followed by Maldaha Dakshin (73.68 pc), Maldaha Uttar (73.30 pc), and Jangipur (72.13 pc).

The TMC, BJP, and the Congress-CPI(M) alliance lodged separate complaints related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents.

In the Karimpur area of the seat, clashes were reported between the TMC and the CPI(M) supporters outside a few booths. Clashes were reported between the TMC and the Congress activists from the Domkol area.

BJP candidate Dhanajoy Ghosh faced protests by TMC cadres in the Jangipur area as he tried to enter some of the booths in the constituency.

3 dead in Karnataka

Queues were seen at polling booths in most Lok Sabha segments in northern districts of Karnataka.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba, and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge were among those who came in early to cast their votes in Karnataka.

Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa along with sons B Y Raghavendra, BJP candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment and B Y Vijayendra, party's state President – and daughters-in-law cast their vote at Shikaripura in Shivamogga district.

Two government officials on poll duty died in Karnataka after suffering a heart attack, sources in the Election Commission said.

A 45-year-old woman polling officer – Kaushika Babariya – deployed at a polling booth in Amreli district of Gujarat, also died of a heart attack.

In Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is the NCP candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar were among those who cast their votes.

Sharad Pawar welcomed with ‘aarti’

Sharad Pawar was welcomed with a traditional 'aarti' as he arrived at a polling booth in the Malegaon area of Baramati constituency in Pune district.

Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar cast their votes at a polling booth in Katewadi area of Baramati.

Sunetra is pitted against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar's daughter and the sitting MP from there.

In Assam, people lined up in large numbers across four Lok Sabha constituencies to cast their vote.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and daughter Sukanya Sarma exercised his franchise at Amingaon in Barpeta Lok Sabha seat.

People used all modes of transport, including boats, to reach the polling stations across Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri and Kokrajhar constituencies to exercise their democratic franchise amid rain.

Over 1,300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray in the third phase.

Voting was completed in 189 seats out of 543 seats in the first two phases. The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes is on June 4.

Follow this thread for live updates:

Live Updates

  • 7 May 2024 10:21 AM IST

    Pawars vote for Baramati seat

    Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is the NCP candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar cast their votes in the constituency on Tuesday morning.

    In Baramati, NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule is pitted against Sunetra Pawar.

    Sharad Pawar was welcomed with the traditional ‘aarti’ as he arrived at a polling booth in Malegaon area of Baramati constituency in Pune district.

    The veteran politician stood in a queue before casting his vote at the booth. He later left for his Govindbaug residence near Baramati.

    Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar cast their votes at a polling booth in Katewadi area of Baramati.

    The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for polling in Baramati, where there are more than 23 lakh eligible voters.

    Talking to reporters after casting his vote, Ajit Pawar, the estranged nephew of Sharad Pawar, said he has been maintaining it is not a contest between family members, but the other side is propagating that it is about the family and trying to show they are together against him.

    "I want to make it clear that the senior most family member in the Pawar family is my mother Ashatai Anantrao Pawar, who is with me and the three of us today exercised our voting right," he said.

    Refuting NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar's charge of money distribution in Bhor area of Baramati constituency, the deputy CM said it is the Election Commission's task to look into such things.

    "I have personally contested elections seven times and never indulged in such practices. Right from the beginning of the campaign, some sections of the opposition have been making such allegations against me but I don't pay any heed to it," he said.

    The person who is making such allegations has "lost his balance", the NCP leader claimed.

    "I don't think I should give any importance to such a person," he said.

    Ajit Pawar said the opposition leaders have sensed a "different" result and that is why they are making such allegations out of desperation.

  • 7 May 2024 10:18 AM IST

    PM lauds EC

    PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls with hardly any violence and asked the people to come out in large numbers to vote.

    He said violence during elections was very common in the past.

    After casting his vote at Nishan School in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, PM Modi also said the way the Indian elections are being conducted could be a learning process for other democracies.

    Matdaan samanya daan nahi hai, hamare desh main daan ka mahatva hai (voting is not a common gift, in our country importance is given to donation). People of the country should vote in large numbers keeping this feeling in their hearts,” Modi told reporters.

    The third phase of voting is underway on Tuesday and campaigning will go on for almost three weeks and four more phases of polling, he noted.

    "As a voter from Gujarat, I have been voting here (Nishan School) for the last many years, and our Amitbhai (Shah) is the BJP candidate from here," Modi said.

    "Today is the day of celebration of democracy. I congratulate the Election Commission, security forces and officials involved in conducting the first two phases of polls almost violence-free. In the past, violence during elections was very common," he said.

    Modi also congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the polls in a voter-friendly manner.

    "The conduct of our election, our election management is such that it can be a learning process for other democracies. Big universities of the world should carry out a case study on the Indian elections," he said.

    "This year, almost 64 countries in the world are going to polls. There should be a comparison of elections between India and other countries. This year's festival of democracy is not only in India but around the world," Modi said.

    Modi congratulated the Election Commission for adopting good poll practices from the world in the elections in India.

    He also lauded the EC for adopting modern technology for conducting the polls.

  • 7 May 2024 10:17 AM IST

    9.45% turnout in Karnataka till 9 am

    An estimated 9.45 percent turnout was reported during the first two hours since voting began for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka in 14 constituencies.

    Queues were seen at polling booths in most of these Lok Sabha segments in the northern districts of state with voters, mostly senior citizens, morning walkers and joggers, lining up to cast their votes early, with temperature expected to rise as the day progresses.

    Voter turnout till 9 am was about 9.45 per cent, election officials said.

    Out of 14 segments that are going to polls today, highest turnout of 11.39 per cent was recorded in Shimoga, followed by Uttara Kannada at 11.07 per cent, and least 8.27 per cent in Raichur.

    Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, who are also BJP's candidates from Haveri and Belgaum segments respectively, Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, suspended BJP leader and independent candidate from Shimoga KS Eshwarappa, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar along with son and Belgaum Congress candidate Mrinal Hebbalkar were among the prominent people who cast their votes.

  • 7 May 2024 10:14 AM IST

    Polling peaceful so far in 4 Bengal seats

    Polling was underway peacefully in four Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal as 15.85 per cent turnout was recorded till 9 am on Tuesday, a poll official said.

    Altogether 73,37,651 voters, including 36,12,395 women and 154 belonging to the third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise.

    Voters were seen lining up outside the 7,360 polling stations in the four parliamentary constituencies of Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Murshidabad and Jangipur, he said.

    “Polling has been more or less peaceful so far. A total of 15.85 per cent turnout has been recorded till 9 am,” the official told PTI.

    Jangipur recorded the highest turnout of 16.95 per cent, followed by Maldaha Dakshin (16.33), Maldaha Uttar (15.33) and Murshidabad (14.87), he said.

    So far, 182 complaints have been lodged with the CEO of West Bengal, he added.

    "We have disposed of 16 of those complaints. We are looking to address the remaining complaints. Our officials are keeping a close watch on the proceedings," he said.

    To ensure free and fair polling, ECI has deployed 334 companies of central forces along with 13,600 state police personnel.

  • 7 May 2024 9:52 AM IST

    Modi meets people, signs autographs

     

    PM Modi meets people and signs autographs after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on Tuesday | PTI

    PM Modi meets people and signs autographs after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on Tuesday | PTI

     

  • 7 May 2024 9:40 AM IST

    Shah and family vote, visit temple

  • 7 May 2024 9:39 AM IST

    Shah's appeal to voters

  • 7 May 2024 9:38 AM IST

  • 7 May 2024 9:37 AM IST

  • 7 May 2024 9:37 AM IST

Read More
Next Story