Phase 2 of Lok Sabha elections 2024 witnesses over 60% voter turnout
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Voting for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections commenced across 13 states and union territories, encompassing 88 constituencies with over 1,200 candidates vying for seats.
By 5 pm, a notable 60.7% voter turnout was recorded across the regions.
States like Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Assam, and Tripura witnessed over 70% voter engagement, while Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra marked comparatively lower turnouts at 52.6%, 53%, and 53.5% respectively.
The constituencies scheduled for polling include all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, and 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar. Additionally, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir are part of the electoral process.
Key contenders in this phase include Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP's Tejasvi Surya, Hema Malini, and Arun Govil, as well as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor.
In the preceding 2019 elections, the NDA secured victory in 56 out of 89 seats, while the UPA won 24 seats. However, with six seats redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise, the electoral landscape has witnessed significant changes.
The first phase of elections, encompassing 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories, witnessed a commendable voter turnout of approximately 65.5%.
Meanwhile, in Karnataka's Chamrajnagar Lok Sabha constituency, voting was abruptly halted following a clash between two groups at a polling station in Indiganatta village. The altercation ensued after the Soliga and Bedagampana communities initially opted to boycott voting due to inadequate amenities.
Upon persuasion by district officials, the Soliga community decided to cast their votes, provoking the ire of the other group. The confrontation escalated to an attack on the polling station, prompting police intervention through a mild lathi-charge to restore order.
In the Lok Sabha polls of 2024, the voter turnout across various states in Phase 2 until 3 pm has shown a noticeable decline compared to the figures from the corresponding phase in 2019.
Nationally, the turnout stood at 50.3%, marking a significant decrease from the 70.1% recorded in 2019.
Notably, Assam recorded a turnout of 60.3% for 5 out of its 14 seats, down from 81.3% in 2019, while Bihar witnessed a turnout of 44.2% for 5 out of its 40 seats, down from 62.9% previously.
Other states also experienced declines, such as Maharashtra with 43.0% (down from 62.8%), and Uttar Pradesh with 44.1% (down from 62.2%). However, there were exceptions like Chhattisgarh, where the turnout increased to 63.9% from 75.1%, and Manipur, which saw a rise to 68.5% from 84.1%.
Jammu & Kashmir, contributing 1 out of its 5 seats, recorded a turnout of 57.8%, down from 72.5%. Karnataka, with 14 out of 28 seats, saw a decrease to 50.9% from 69.0%. Kerala, with all 20 seats in Phase 2, witnessed a decrease to 51.6% from 77.8%. Madhya Pradesh, having 6 out of 29 seats, experienced a decline to 46.5% from 67.7%.
Rajasthan, with 13 out of 25 seats, experienced a decrease to 50.3% from 68.4%. Tripura, with 1 out of 1 seat, saw a decrease to 68.9% from 82.9%. Uttar Pradesh, with 8 out of 80 seats, witnessed a decline to 44.1% from 62.2%. West Bengal, with 3 out of 42 seats, recorded a turnout of 60.6%, down from 80.7% in 2019.
