LS polls: 65% turnout recorded in third phase of polling amid stray incidents of violence

New Delhi: Amid stray incidents of violence in West Bengal, nearly 65 percent voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday.

Ninety-three constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories went into polls in the third phase.

Highest in Assam

Assam recorded the highest turnout at 81.71 percent, West Bengal at 76.52 percent, Goa at 75.20 percent, Chhattisgarh at 71.06 percent, Uttar Pradesh at 57.34 percent, Bihar at 58.18 percent, Gujarat at 59.51 percent, Maharashtra at 61.44 percent, Karnataka 70.41 percent, and Madhya Pradesh 66.05 per cent.

Union territories Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 69.87 percent.

Voting completed for 282 seats

The third phase is important as 282 Lok Sabha seats in 20 states have been completed.

Important states are:

Gujarat: Polling took place in 25 seats and Valsad polled the highest 72.24 percent and Amreli 49.22 percent. Surat has been declared unopposed.

Voters completely boycotted the elections in Kesar village in Bharuch, Sanadhara in Surat, Bhatgam village in Junagadh district, and Bodoli and Kunjara villages in Mahisagar district.

In three villages in Gujarat, there was a partial boycott as there was no voting in booths according to preliminary reports of the Election Commission.

The voting percentage in 2024 is approximately 4 percent less compared to 2019.

Uttar Pradesh

There was an incident of Muslims not being allowed to vote in Sambhal which went viral on social media and was later sorted out by officials.

In Uttar Pradesh, Agra witnessed 53.99 percent polling, Aonla 57.08 percent, Budaun 54.05 percent, Bareilly 57.88 percent, Etah 59.17 percent, Fatehpur Sikri 57.09 percent, Firozabad 58.22 percent, Hathras 55.36 percent, Mainpuri 58.59 percent and Sambhal 62.81 percent.

Not a single vote was also cast in three villages of Firozabad -- Nagla Jawahar, Neem Kheria, and Nagla Umar – as villagers were upset that their problems were not solved.

"In Mainpuri, BJP people are trying to loot booths. They are detaining opposition people in police stations," SP chief Yadav alleged without elaborating.

West Bengal

There were sporadic incidents of violence that marred polling in four constituencies as workers clashed in Murshidabad and Jangipur seats.

According to state election officials, Murshidabad registered the highest voter turnout of 80.13 percent followed by Maldaha Dakshin (76.15 percent), Maldaha Uttar (75.92 percent), and Jangipur (73.71 percent).

Maharashtra

Baramati, the seat to watch out for was polled in the third phase. Supriya Sule is the sitting MP and Sunetra Pawar wife of Ajit Pawar is the candidate against her.

It was noted, that many of the people abstained from voting in this region.

The percentage of Maharashtra is 61.44 percent and it is considered low compared to 2019. According to sources, “There are people sandwiched between two groups of Pawar’s and Shiv Sena. They are not sure whom to side with as it would impact their business interest.”

Assam

The highest percentage was in Assam 81.71 percent as people braved rains and even used boats to reach the polling station to vote.

The next four phases will be on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes is on June 4.

Inputs from PTI