High Turnout in Lok Sabha Polls – Voting Underway in 88 Constituencies Across 13 States

Voter turnout has been robust in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections as polling is underway in 88 constituencies spread across 13 States. Election officials reported a total aggregate voter turnout of 39.3% by 1 p.m.

The highest voter participation was seen in Tripura with a polling percentage of 54.47% by 1 p.m., while Maharashtra recorded the lowest turnout at 31.77%. The election contest features 1,202 candidates, including 1,098 male, 102 female, and two transgender contestants competing for seats in the lower house of the Indian parliament.

States with polling in this phase include Kerala (20 seats), Karnataka (14 seats), Rajasthan (13 seats), Maharashtra (eight seats), Uttar Pradesh (eight seats), Madhya Pradesh (six seats), Assam (five seats), Bihar (five seats), Chhattisgarh (three seats), West Bengal (three seats), Manipur (one seat), Tripura (one seat), and Jammu and Kashmir (one seat).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rescheduled voting in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul constituency to the third phase on May 7 following the untimely demise of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Ashok Balawi.

Prominent candidates contesting in this phase include Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from the BJP, actors Hema Malini and Arun Govil, and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

The ECI has faced allegations of lacking transparency in the Bengaluru Rural constituency polls, with Kumaraswamy alleging irregularities in the election process and incidents of violence against party workers.

Furthermore, the ECI issued notices to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over alleged violations of the poll code during campaign speeches. Kharge extended an offer to personally explain the Congress manifesto to Modi amid ongoing political exchanges.