Lok Sabha Elections: 60.96% Voter Turnout Recorded in Phase 2 Polling; Tripura Leads with 78.53%

Amid intense heat conditions in several states, a voter turnout of 60.96 per cent was recorded in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. Two northeastern states — Tripura and violence-hit Manipur — led with the highest voter turnouts at 78.53 per cent and 77.18 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest voting percentage at 53.71 per cent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to those who cast their vote in the second phase of polling.

“Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA’s good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support,” he said in a post on X.

The Election Commission of India said polling remained largely peaceful. The tentative figure at 7 pm of voter turnout of 60.96 per cent is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained, as voters reaching polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote, it said.

Polling was conducted in 88 seats across 13 states/UTs with complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal. In the national capital, however, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas seeking ballot paper voting and rejected those asking for cross-verification of votes cast in electronic voting machines (EVM) with voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT). But, the court issued two directions for the Election Commission of India with regard to symbol loading unit and verification of the burnt memory semi-controller in 5 per cent of the EVMs.

The prime minister welcomed the top court’s ruling, calling it a “good day for democracy” and a “tight slap” on those who continuously tried to “malign EVM”. “These people continuously tried to malign EVM, but today SC gave them a very tight slap. They will not be able to see anything, today is a good day for democracy,” he said while addressing a public rally in Bihar’s Araria.

Sitting BJP MP and Bengaluru South candidate Tejasvi Surya was booked for posting a video on his social media handle on X and allegedly soliciting votes on the ground of religion. Meanwhile, there were reports of clashes in West Bengal’s Balurghat, where an altercation took place between Lok Sabha candidate and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and TMC workers.

Heat wave affects voter turnout

Data showed the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura, which registered 78.53 per cent polling followed by Manipur at 77.18 while the turnout was the lowest in Uttar Pradesh at 53.71 per cent and Maharashtra at 53.84 per cent. Polling was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, six seats in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura, Rajasthan’s Banswara and Maharashtra’s Parbhani were boycotting the polls over various issues but were later persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise. Polling began at 7 am and ended at 6 pm. In the second phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls held in 95 constituencies across 13 states, the turnout was much higher at 67.6 per cent. The heat wave is believed to have contributed towards several voters not turning up at polling stations in both the phases this time.

In the first phase, the turnout was 65.5 per cent compared to 69.43 per cent in phase one of the 2019 polls. Some of the constituencies were different then and the total number of seats that went to poll were 91. The polling time was extended till 6 pm in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate the voters in hot weather conditions.

Special arrangements were made to combat the heat, including provision of ‘shamiyana’, drinking water, medical kits and fans for the convenience of the voters. The usual polling time is 7 am to 6 pm, but varies depending on factors such as terrain, time of sunset and security situation.

With this phase, polling concluded in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. The third phase of the polling for 94 seats in 12 states and UTs will be held on May 7. Counting will be done on June 4. In the first phase, polling was held in 102 seats on April 19. The voter turnout was recorded at 62.37 per cent, which may still be revised upwards as votes are tallied.

Prime Minister Modi in the morning urged people to cast their vote in record numbers and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy. Stressing on the importance of each vote, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi issued impassioned appeals asking people to step out and exercise their franchise.

The National Democratic alliance (NDA) is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Let’s take a look at what happened in the 13 states/UTs that went to polls in the second phase:

Tripura

With the highest voter turnout at 78.53 per cent, Tripura maintained its lead in the second phase polling. The newly settled Bru migrants in Gomati also cast their vote in this phase. However, over 600 voters of a remote tribal village in Dhalai district, part of Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, abstained from voting due to the unrepaired condition of a 7-km village road, an election official said. The village residents, around 900, have been persistently demanding repairs for months, stressing on the road’s critical importance to their community, the official added. Gandacherra (Raima Valley) SDM Arindam Das told PTI that village residents are standing outside the polling booth but not entering to cast their vote as they are protesting against government apathy. He said they have also complained about the drinking water problem, adding that after getting the report, a team of officials rushed to Sadai Mohan Para to persuade the voters to exercise their democratic rights.

Manipur

In restive Manipur, where polling is being held under high presence of security personnel, the turnout was a high 77.18 per cent. There were reports of intimidation by suspected militants, altercation between Congress workers and NPF supporters and damage of EVM at a polling station in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district. At KK Leishi Phanit polling station in Ukhrul, irate voters destroyed an EVM and other items after alleged disturbances by armed miscreants.

Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh

Chhattisgarh recorded a voter turnout of 73.05 per cent in three Lok Sabha constituencies, all having Naxalite presence. The EC said people from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker seats cast their vote in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. According to the police, a jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at a government school where he was stationed in Gariaband district under the Mahasamund seat. A polling booth at Sivni village in Balod district (Kanker seat) was decorated like a wedding ‘mandap’, with a display of rituals of traditional weddings. Brides and grooms dressed in their wedding finery cast their vote at several polling booths in the three seats. In a post on X, former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, who is the Congress candidate in Rajnandgaon seat, said he has received complaints that his photos on the EVMs are smaller and unclear as compared to those of his rivals.

In another post, he accused the BJP workers of stopping him from entering a polling booth in Tedesara village in Rajnandgaon seat. Talking to reporters, Baghel also accused the ruling BJP of using police to threaten Congress leaders and workers in various places of Rajnandgaon constituency ahead of the voting.

Neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, meanwhile, recorded a voter turnout of 55.77 per cent in six constituencies.

West Bengal

The state recorded 71.84 per cent voters exercising their franchise in three constituencies. The EC registered nearly 300 complaints in West Bengal, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning. There were reports of clashes in Balurghat, where an altercation took place between Lok Sabha candidate and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and TMC workers. Majumdar alleged that a large number of TMC workers were present at a polling booth. Slogans of ‘Go back’ pointed at him were also heard.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir recorded a provisional voter turnout of 71.21 per cent. Union minister Jitendra Singh said there is massive excitement among people. “This is the base of successful democracy and that is why it is called a festival… All the phases will turn out to be great for the BJP,” he said. The polls are the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into UTs — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — on August 5, 2019.

Assam

An estimated 70.68 per cent of the 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise in five constituencies. Voters of two polling stations in Silchar constituency boycotted polling over development issues. The electorate of 110 Durganar Bagan lower primary school and Chittaranjan lane did not take part in the polling process. Voters in Durganagar Bagan LP school, which falls under Udharbond assembly segment, refrained from voting demanding construction of a local road. Residents of Chittaranjan lane abstained as their longstanding demand for resolution of the waterlogging problem in the area was unresolved. The locals put up a poster on the road announcing their decision to not vote, alleging that repeated pleas before the administration for the last 10 years have fallen on deaf ears. When contacted, election officials refused to comment on the matter. Silchar Lok Sabha seat registered an overall voter turnout of over 65 per cent.

Kerala

The state registered a voter turnout of 65.23 per cent till the voting ended at 6 pm, with over 70 per cent voting in Kannur, Allapuzha and Kasaragod constituencies. The election process, held amid tight security arrangements, was primarily incident free except for instances of bogus voting and breakdowns of EVMs being reported in some booths. Such incidents resulted in delaying the polling process in the affected booths. Several persons and a polling agent reportedly died due to various reasons during the polling in the state. According to reports, one person each died at Palakkad, Alappuzha and Malappuram after casting their vote and a polling agent died after collapsing at a booth in Kozhikode. Prominent persons, including senior politicians and poll candidates as well as popular actors and heads of church, turned up in the first half to exercise their franchise during the polling in Kerala and urged everyone to vote. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, leader of opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan, BJP state president K Surendran, saffron party candidates Suresh Gopi and Anil Antony as well as KC Venugopal and Shafi Parambil of the Congress were seen casting their vote early in the morning. Besides them, Congress stalwart AK Antony, state Congress chief K Sudhakaran, LDF convener EP Jayarajan and CPI(M)’s Thomas Isaac also came in the morning to exercise their democratic right. Leaders of the CPI(M)-led LDF, Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA claimed that their respective fronts will create history in the state.

Karnataka

Karnataka recorded an overall voting percentage of 64.85. Among those who cast their vote were Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian cricket team’s coach Rahul Dravid and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who was booked for posting a video on X allegedly soliciting votes on the grounds of religion. He is contesting against Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy, daughter of Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy. Taking to X, the Karnataka chief electoral officer posted: “Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and candidate of Bengaluru South PC on April 25 at Jayanagar police station for posting a video on X handle and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion.” Various restaurants in Bengaluru were offering free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote. A private hospital assisted 41 inpatients to cast their vote with the help of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Green corridors were created for the ambulances across constituencies to ensure easy, hassle-free voting. Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed and the EC will take a call on receiving a detailed report.

Rajasthan

The state recorded a voter turnout of 62.46 per cent across 13 parliamentary constituencies. Enthusiasm was seen among the people who lined up at the polling booths to cast their vote. But, in Banswara, not a single voter reached the Adibheet polling booth in the initial hours. Local residents have certain demands regarding compensation against land acquired for a power plant and have declared to boycott the elections. The officials said they are trying to convince voters to exercise their franchise. BJP leader Vasundhara Raje and former CM Ashok Gehlot were among those who cast their vote. Incidents of confrontation between the supporters of the Congress candidate and an independent candidate were reported at a couple of places during polling in Barmer-Jaisalmer. Police said they were looking into the complaints besides some about fake voting from some places. The bypoll for the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district was also held simultaneously and 73.25 per cent voting took place.

Bihar

Polling in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar was conducted peacefully, with a provisional voter turnout of 58.58 per cent, almost 4.34 per cent lower than that of the 2019 general elections. Voting began at 7 am amid tight security for the Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnea, Bhagalpur and Banka constituencies. Election officials said voters boycotted polling at 11 booths in Kishanganj, Bhagalpur and Banka. Besides, officials of the prohibition department seized 72,747 litres of liquor (worth Rs. 2.62 crore) from different places in the state. The sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned in Bihar since April 2016. Congress’s Kishanganj MP Mohd Javed, who is seeking re-election, filed a police complaint, alleging that his opponents issued a fake statement in his name asking people to vote in favour of another candidate. “It was an attempt by my opponents to mislead voters of Kishanganj. I filed a complaint against the suspects last night,” he told reporters.

Maharashtra

A voter turnout of 53.84 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies – Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha and Yavatmal-Washim seats in Vidarbha (eastern Maharashtra) and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in the central Marathwada region. No untoward incident was reported during polling in these constituencies and the process went off largely in a peaceful manner, officials said. At Rampuri in Nanded Lok Sabha constituency, however, a 26-year-old man allegedly damaged an EVM by hitting it with an iron object when he came to cast his vote around 4 pm. He was detained and, during his questioning, he told the police that he wanted a pro-farmer and pro-labourer government in power.

Uttar Pradesh

A voter turnout of 53.34 per cent was recorded in eight constituencies — Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. Senior citizens dominated the early hours of voting in Noida in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency. Some residents’ welfare associations made arrangements for electric vehicles to ferry voters to and from the polling booths. Some people, who are unable to walk and some admitted in the hospital, defied odds to cast their vote in Noida. Among those who did this, some suffered from fracture in hands or legs, slipped disc while some had recently undergone surgeries. These people found support in a free ambulance service through an initiative by local NGO Yuva Kranti Sena and industry body Noida Apparel Export Cluster (NAEC). In the Mathura Lok Sabha constituency, polling was initially boycotted by people of eight villages who complained about poor infrastructure and other issues, but the process was resumed later in Mobarakpur, Sindhauni, Basau, Shiadgarhi, Nand Nagaria, Peeri and Bedna villages. Polling was resumed after a brief hiatus in Devpura village under the Chhata assembly segment. Villagers in Konai and Bandpura villages boycotted polling for nearly four to five hours, which was resumed after the administration intervened, said SDM Goverdhan Nilam Srivastava. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the first-time voters of Mathura, even in the rural areas such as Barsana, said district magistrate Shailendra Singh. In Bulandshahr, voting could not start at the primary school in Chhotabas village in the Pahasu area with villagers staying away over the non-construction of a road. However, after assurances by administrative officials, voting began there around 11 am. In Amroha, a 70-year-old woman died at the Shivdwara East Secondary School booth during the second phase of voting. Officials said Aamna Khatoon died soon after coming out of the polling station.

(With agency inputs)

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