Voting commenced today for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, covering 88 constituencies spread across 13 states and union territories. Over 1,200 candidates, including four from Outer Manipur, are vying for victory in this crucial phase of the electoral process.
As of 1 pm, voter turnout stood at 39.1% across the participating states and union territories. Notably, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, and Tripura witnessed robust turnout rates exceeding 53%, while Maharashtra reported the lowest at just over 31%. Comparatively, during the corresponding period in the 2019 elections, a 40% voter turnout was recorded in these 88 constituencies.
Tomorrow, an additional 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, 8 each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 each in Assam and Bihar, 3 in Chhattisgarh, and 1 each in Manipur, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir will witness polling.
Several prominent figures are contesting in this phase, including Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP’s Tejasvi Surya, actors Hema Malini and Arun Govil, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh, and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
In the previous elections, the NDA secured victory in 56 of the 89 seats contested, while the UPA claimed 24. Six seats have been redrawn following the delimitation exercise.
The ongoing Lok Sabha elections are divided into seven phases. The first phase, held last Friday, encompassed 102 seats across 21 states and union territories, witnessing a notable turnout of approximately 65.5%.
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