Lok Sabha elections: Over 57% voter turnout recorded in fifth phase

NEW DELHI: In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election, 49 constituencies across six states and two Union territories witnessed a voter turnout of over 57 per cent on Monday. Despite sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal and EVM glitches in some booths in the state and Odisha, the polling process continued.

Maharashtra recorded the lowest voter turnout at 48.88 per cent, while West Bengal had the highest at 73 per cent. Other states like Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Ladakh recorded turnouts of 52.55, 54.21, 63, 60.72, 57.43, and 67.15 per cent, respectively.

Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir saw its highest polling percentage in nearly four decades, with a turnout of more than 59 per cent.
The Election Commission received 1,036 complaints from various political parties regarding EVM malfunctioning and agents being prevented from entering booths. In West Bengal, clashes erupted between TMC and BJP workers in several constituencies, including Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress alleged EVM malfunctioning and accused the BJP of preventing people from casting votes in three booths in Bela Khara village.

Samajwadi Party candidate Shreya Verma also complained about unfair polling practices in the Mankapur area of Gonda constituency. In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray expressed concerns about the lack of facilities for voters outside polling booths, while BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged corrupt practices by Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders in Bhandup, Mumbai.

In Odisha, an auto-rickshaw driver was allegedly hacked to death near Sarsara in Bargarh district while transporting voters to a polling booth. The family members claimed it was a political murder, but the police attributed it to personal enmity.

EVM glitches were also reported in some parts of Odisha. Over 8.95 crore people, including 4.26 crore females and 5,409 third-gender electors, were eligible to vote in this round, with 9.47 lakh polling officials deployed across 94,732 polling stations.

So far, polling for 23 states and Union territories and 379 seats has been completed.

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