Lok Sabha Elections: West Bengal Takes Lead, Maharashtra Trails Far Behind In Phase 3 Voter Turnout Till 9 AM

Lok Sabha Elections: In the phase 3, voting is being held on 92 seats across 12 states and UTs.

Lok Sabha Elections: In the phase 3, voting is being held on 92 seats across 12 states and UTs. ( Image Source :PTI )

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 3: As the voting for the third phase in the Lok Sabha elections began on Tuesday, a voter turnout of 10.81 per cent was recorded till 9 AM. The polling is being held on 92 seats across 12 states and Union Territories. According to the Election Commission data, the voter turnout is the highest so far in West Bengal (15.85%) and lowest in Maharashtra (6.64%). The third phase will see over 1,300 candidates, including approximately 120 women, in the fray. 

The states witnessing polling today include Assam (4 seats), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Goa (2), Gujarat (25), Karnataka (14), Madhya Pradesh (8), Maharashtra (11), Uttar Pradesh (10), West Bengal (4), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2). Among the key candidates are Union ministers Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Pralhad Joshi, and SP Singh Baghel.

Phase 3 Voter Turnout Till 9 AM

State/ UT	Turnout
Assam	10.12%
Bihar	10.41%
Chhattisgarh	13.24%
Karnataka	9.45%
Dadra & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu	10.13
Goa	13.02%
Madhya Pradesh	14.43%
Maharashtra	6.64%
Uttar Pradesh	12.94%
West Bengal	15.85%
Gujarat	9.87%

This phase is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, in the 2019 polls. Among the key candidates are Union ministers Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Mansukh Mandaviya, Parshottam Rupala, Pralhad Joshi, and SP Singh Baghel.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri constituency was postponed after the saffron party raised concern pertaining to the weather, which was forcing the closure of a tunnel connecting the two ends of the constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived at his home state Gujarat in Ahmedabad cast his vote on Tuesday morning. He will poll his vote in a polling booth located on the premises of Nishan Higher Secondary School in the Ranip area.

Tight security measures were implemented outside the polling booth in Ranip where PM Modi cast his vote, he showcased his inked finger soon after.