Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2: EVMs Being Sealed In Assam, Manipur & Kerala As Voting Concludes
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 LIVE: Please follow the space and keep refreshing the page for all the updates pertating to the second phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
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Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 LIVE: Please follow the space and keep refreshing the page for all the updates pertating to the second phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Voters from 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 12 states and 1 Union Territory began casting their ballots on Friday. According to the data released by the Election Commission, states in northeast were leading the voter turnout list with over 70% voting recorded till 5 PM. As per the data, Assam registered 70.66% voting, Tripura recorded 77.53%, Manipur 76.06%. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recorded least voting with 52.74% and 53.03%.
All eyes are on a slew of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor from the Congress, as well as Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kailash Choudhary, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who are contesting in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested battle, particularly in BJP strongholds. The first phase of polling was held on 102 seats on April 19.
The Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2 will present a crucial test for the BJP's ambitious expansion plans in Kerala. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Karnataka are being watched keenly due to the emergence of new political dynamics since 2019.
Former BJP ally Uddhav Thackeray now leads the I.N.D.I.A bloc in Maharashtra, while a major part of the Shiv Sena (now divided), once under his leadership, is now allied with the BJP under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Additionally, the Nationalist Congress Party, a significant regional player, has split, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction aligning with the BJP.
In Karnataka, where the grand old party is currently in power, its former ally JD(S) has switched camps to join the saffron camp. The BJP-led NDA holds sway in 27 of the state's 28 seats, with the I.N.D.I.A bloc hoping to make inroads with its welfare initiatives.
Gautam Buddha Nagar is set for the Lok Sabha election on Friday and around 20,000 personnel are on polling duty to facilitate the process for more than 26.75 lakh registered voters in the constituency, according to officials. "Of the personnel on poll duty, around 11,000 are from the security, including police, paramilitary, civil force, and homeguards, while about 9,000 are administrative staff and officers have been deployed at voting booths and stations," District Election Officer Manish Kumar Verma told PTI.
There are 1,852 booths in the constituency and live webcasting is being done from 931 of them, while the remaining will have provisions for either CCTV or videography. The constituency has 164 vulnerable booths and 165 critical booths, he said. "Micro observers will be stationed at vulnerable and critical booths," Verma said on Thursday. He added that all booths will have at least four polling officials and paramilitary personnel will be deployed. He said 20 per cent extra EVMs are available in the constituency to replace any EVM that does not function properly.
Gautam Buddha Nagar Lok Sabha constituency is spread across the assembly segments of Noida, Dadri, Jewar, Khurja and Sikandrabad. Of these, Sikandrabad and Khujra geographically fall in the adjoining Bulandshahr district but are part of the Gautam Buddha Nagar constituency.
Gautam Buddha Nagar has 26,75,148 voters across the five assembly segments, including 14,50,795 male, 12,22,234 female and 119 third-gender voters.
In Kerala, where the BJP has never won a seat, the party is banking on candidates like actor Suresh Gopi, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, to make electoral gains. Chandrasekhar has been pitted against three-time Congress MP Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram, while Rahul Gandhi seeks re-election from Wayanad, his current Lok Sabha constituency.
60.96% Voter Turnout Recorded Across 14 States & UT Till 7 PM
Polling across 13 states and UTs in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Elections concluded on Friday. A total turnout of 60.96% was recorded as of 7 PM. Webcasting was at over 1 lakh polling stations. Polling is now complete in 14 states and UTs; 102 villages in Bastar division witnessed polling in Lok Sabha for the first time. Polling commenced at 7 AM. Voters from across 13 states and UTs participated enthusiastically to cast their vote at their polling station, braving the hot weather conditions. Voters ranged from newlyweds to senior citizens, tribals to IT professionals, PwDs, women, and youngsters.
UP Recorded Almost 53% Voting Till 5 PM, Says State Chief Electoral Officer
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: UP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said on Friday that in the second phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, voting took place in eight constituencies of the state and a total turnout of almost 53% was recorded. “The second phase of polling took place in eight constituencies in Uttar Pradesh today. We recorded almost 53 per cent voting till 5 pm. We arranged for webcasting at 8,852 places covering 50 per cent polling stations," UP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said.
VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: “The second phase of polling took place in eight constituencies in Uttar Pradesh today. We recorded almost 53 per cent voting till 5 pm. We arranged for webcasting at 8,852 places covering 50 per cent polling stations,” says UP Chief Electoral… pic.twitter.com/lUdggZCRo0
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2024
PM Modi's Dig At Opposition As Voting Ends
PM Modi took to X and said, "Phase Two has been too good! 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."
Phase Two has been too good!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024
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.
Lok Sabha Polls Phase 2 Voting: EVMs, VVPATs Being Sealed At Polling Station In Rajasthan's Jhalawar
Rajasthan: EVMs, and VVPATs machines are being sealed at a polling station in Jhalawar as voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections concludes.
#WATCH | Rajasthan: EVMs, and VVPATs machines are being sealed at a polling station in Jhalawar as voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections concludes. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/b1EAxleHhA
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024
Lok Sabha Phase 2 Voting: EVMs, VVPATs Are Being Sealed At Polling Station In West Bengal
West Bengal: EVMs, and VVPATs machines are being sealed at a polling station in Raiganj as voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections concludes.
#WATCH | West Bengal: EVMs, and VVPATs machines are being sealed at a polling station in Raiganj as voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections concludes. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/oLJruId3mn
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2024