Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 Voting Ends Across 10 States And UTs Amid Incidents Of Violence, EVM Glitches

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4: In the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024, 62% voter turnout was recorded in 96 constituencies across 10 states and UTs till 5 pm.

Voters wait in a queue at a polling station to cast their votes for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Bardhaman, Monday, May 13, 2024. ( Image Source :PTI )

Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Phase 4: The polling for phase 4 of the ongoing General elections across 96 constituencies spread over 10 states and Union Territories concluded on Monday with a voter turnout of more than 62 per cent was recorded till 5 pm.  However, the polling process was marred by incidents of violence in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, alongside reports of EVM malfunctions in several areas.

According to data released by the Election Commission, a voting percentage of 62.31 was registered till 5 pm, with polling going on till 6 pm. Notably, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 35.75 per cent, while West Bengal recorded the highest with 75.66 per cent.

The voter turnout across nine states and one union territory till 5 pm is as follows:

• Andhra Pradesh - 68.04 %
• Bihar - 54.14 %
• Jammu and Kashmir - 35.75%
• Jharkhand - 63.14%
• Madhya Pradesh - 68.01%
• Maharashtra - 52.49%
• Odisha - 62.96%
• Telangana - 61.16% 
• Uttar Pradesh - 56.35%
• West Bengal - 75.66%

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4: Violence And EVM Malfunctioning Across States

In Telangana's Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha was booked after a video emerged online showing her asking burqa-clad women voters to reveal their faces for identity verification. More On It | BJP's Madhavi Latha Caught On Camera Removing Women's Burqas To 'Check Identity', FIR Lodged In Hyderabad

Meanwhile, violence erupted in parts of Andhra Pradesh, with accusations flying between the YSRCP and TDP. In one incident, YSRCP leader A Shiva Kumar reportedly manhandled a voter in Tenali, while in Dalavaipalli village, an EVM was destroyed and vehicles belonging to the ruling party and TDP members were damaged, news agency PTI reported.

In Uttar Pradesh, some villages of Shahjahanpur boycotted the Lok Sabha elections, citing grievances regarding infrastructure and development, according to PTI's report.

The battleground in West Bengal was fraught with tension as TMC and BJP workers clashed in various areas under Birbhum and Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seats. Although the Election Commission claimed overall peace, it acknowledged receiving 1,088 complaints of EVM malfunctioning and agents being obstructed from entering booths. 

EVM glitches were also reported in Odisha, where 65 Ballot Units, 83 Control Units, and 110 VVPATs were replaced. Notably, most of the replacements were done during the mock poll exercise before the commencement of polling at 7 am. The Election Commission suspended two polling officials in the state for dereliction of duty, , Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal said, as per the report.

In Jharkhand, security forces thwarted Maoist attempts to disrupt voter access in remote areas. Maoists fell a tree and blocked a road leading to remote Sonapi and Morangponga areas of West Singhbhum district, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, while voting progressed peacefully in Srinagar, some displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu couldn't cast their votes due to missing names from the electoral rolls.

A total of 1,717 candidates contested in this phase of the elections, with over 17.70 crore eligible voters, including 8.73 crore women. With this phase, polling concludes in 379 seats out of 543.

The voter turnout in the previous three phases stood at 66.14 per cent, 66.71 per cent, and 65.68 per cent, respectively. The remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for May 20, May 25, and June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4.