Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 2: Update on Voting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the people of India as the second phase of voting for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 concluded in 88 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) on April 26. He urged citizens, especially the youth and women, to participate in large numbers, emphasizing that a high voter turnout strengthens democracy.
Congress leaders, including Malikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi, also encouraged voters, framing this election as crucial for safeguarding the constitution.
Voting starts at 7 am and closes at 5 pm. Tripura led in voter turnout with 77.53%, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest at 52.74%, according to data released by the Election Commission of India.
Significant voter turnout was observed in Manipur (76.06%), West Bengal (71.84%), Chhattisgarh (72.13%), and Assam (70.66%) by 5 pm.
Approximately 15.88 crore voters were eligible to vote, including 8.08 crore men, 7.8 crore women, and 5,929 third-gender electors. Notably, 3.28 crore young voters aged 20-29 years, including 34.8 lakh first-time voters, were registered for this phase.
Phase 1 saw 109 seats went to polls on April 19, with a voter turnout of around 62%. Vote counting for all seven phases will occur on June 4.
On April 26, elections were held for all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Tripura.
Phase 2 featured prominent candidates like Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Tejasvi Surya, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hema Malini, Arun Govil, and Om Birla, among 1,210 candidates in the fray.
With over 16 lakh polling officials deployed across 1.67 lakh polling stations, webcasting was implemented in more than 50% of polling stations, along with micro-observers in all stations.
The Lok Sabha Election, spanning 543 seats, will occur in seven phases, concluding on June 1.
Vote counting for all phases will take place on June 4.
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