As the Lok Sabha elections progress into their 7th phase, voters in 57 constituencies across eight states and Union territories have cast their votes. The Election Commission’s voter-turnout app reports an approximate polling percentage of 40.09% till 1 pm.
State-wise Turnout:
- Bihar: The voter turnout in Bihar stands at 35.65%, reflecting a moderate participation of voters in the state.
- Chandigarh: Chandigarh saw a slightly higher turnout at 40.14%, indicating a decent voter presence in the Union Territory.
- Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh recorded a robust voter turnout of 48.63%, showcasing significant civic engagement in the state.
- Jharkhand: Jharkhand witnessed a substantial turnout of 46.80%, demonstrating active participation by voters.
- Odisha: Odisha recorded a turnout of 37.64%, indicating a moderate level of voter engagement in the state.
- Punjab: Punjab saw a turnout of 37.80%, reflecting a relatively lower participation compared to other states.
- Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh recorded a turnout of 39.31%, marking a decent presence of voters in the state.
- West Bengal: West Bengal witnessed a notable turnout of 45.07%, indicating significant voter interest in the state.
Key Contests and Candidates:
In Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut made her electoral debut as she contested against Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress.
In Chandigarh, BJP’s Sanjay Tandon competed against Congress nominee and former Union minister Manish Tewari, backed by AAP.
In Bihar’s Pataliputra, RJD fielded Misa Bharti, the eldest daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav, against BJP candidate Ram Kripal Yadav, who has won twice before.
Polling for the remaining 42 assembly constituencies of Odisha also took place today, with a total of 904 candidates contesting in these 57 constituencies. This phase also saw voting in several key seats, including Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third re-election.
Despite the diverse political landscape and key contests, the overall turnout in the first six phases remained lower compared to the 2019 elections, with the turnout ranging from 62.2% to 69.16%.
However, the turnout in the seventh phase showcases varying levels of voter engagement across different states, indicating the diverse political dynamics at play.
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