India Election 2024 Phase 2 Voting Highlights: In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, covering 88 seats across 13 states, nearly 61 percent voter turnout was reported. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, with several states experiencing intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling took place on April 19, covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said that polling remained largely peaceful. The initial figure at 7 pm indicated a voter turnout of 60.96 percent, which is expected to increase as reports from all polling stations are compiled.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Modi, is aiming for a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc, INDIA, hopes for a resurgence after setbacks in the 2014 and 2019 elections. According to Election Commission data, Tripura recorded the highest voter turnout at 78.53 percent, followed by Manipur at 77.18 percent. In Uttar Pradesh, the turnout was 53.71 percent, and in Maharashtra, it stood at 53.84 percent.
Key contenders in this phase were leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil. Notable figures such as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh (Congress) and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are also in the fray. Meanwhile, BJP stalwarts Hema Malini, Om Birla, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are seeking re-election to continue their winning streaks. Other notable contests include Tejasvi Surya (BJP) defending his Bangalore South seat against Congress’s Sowmya Reddy, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (Congress) contesting from Rajnandgaon, a BJP stronghold for over three decades.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Second Phase Voting Live Updates: Polling was held across 88 parliamentary constituencies in 13 States/UTs, along with one part PC (Outer Manipur).
Polling concludes in all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. With less than an hour remaining for the conclusion of polling in the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the state registered a turnout of 64.73 per cent at 5.20 pm on Friday.
Officials searched the chopper of BJD leader K Pandian during election campaigning in Odisha's Umerkote earlier today.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, expressed enthusiasm and encouraged voters during the Lok Sabha elections, urging them to turn out in large numbers despite the extreme heat.
"Not even extreme heat could stop voters from casting their votes. This kind of enthusiasm should be there among all voters because the opportunity to elect the 18th Lok Sabha has arrived in the world's largest democracy," Thakur said.
He also appealed to the youth to turn out in large numbers to vote, stressing that every voter should exercise their right. (ANI)
Former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath cast his vote at a polling booth in Mysuru during the Lok Sabha Polls on Friday."It is our right to come and vote. We want the people to come out and vote...I think people should come out. Voting is important..." Srinath told ANI.
Karnataka is voting for 14 seats in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, with the remaining 14 scheduled for May 7th.
In Porbandar, Gujarat, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that, in his conversations with young men and women today, it's evident that every first-time voter, every youth, has made up their mind to choose Modi ji as their leader.
"They want to bring the leadership of Mansukh Mandaviya to Porbandar. Work is going on to make Porbandar Railway Station world-class. Today all the youth also decided how to utilize the area around Porbandar station in a better way..." he said.
Voting is ongoing at 857 polling stations, covering 13 assembly segments across eight districts. In the first phase of elections, sections of the Outer Manipur seat, including 15 assembly segments, and 32 assembly segments of the Inner Manipur, went to the polls on April 19th.
As the polling for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, predicting a landslide victory for the BJP and NDA, said, "In 13 states, 88 constituencies are going to polls, with five in Bihar. What I have heard from my friends, colleagues, and analysts is that we are surging... the BJP is surging, the NDA is surging. It is obvious that the BJP and NDA are heading for a landslide victory, and PM Modi is going to come back with a thumping majority."
A groom arrived at his designated polling station in Udaipur, Rajasthan, to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha elections.
After casting her vote, Aisshwarya DKS Hegde, daughter of Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "It's about the country today. If only the country grows, I or any other individual will grow...I have no intentions (to join politics). I am an educationist and I am happy doing that. Everyone needs to work in different fields to make India proud and I am working in a field which is so required right now."
88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections. Here is the voter turnout till 1 pm according to the ECI data:
Assam - 46.31%
Bihar - 33.80%
Chhattisgarh - 53.09%
Jammu and Kashmir - 42.88%
Karnataka - 38.23%
Kerala - 39.26%
Madhya Pradesh - 38.96%
Maharashtra - 31.77%
Manipur - 54.26%
Rajasthan - 40.39%
Tripura - 54.47%
Uttar Pradesh - 35.73%
West Bengal - 47.29%
After the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into Union territories on August 5, 2019, this is the first significant electoral contest being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir. Incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vying for a third consecutive term in the Lower House of Parliament after winning the 2014 and 2019 elections. The other key candidates contesting for this seat against Sharma are Raman Bhalla from the Congress and Ankur Sharma from the Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal. Read more
88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections. Here is the voter turnout till 11 am according to the ECI data:
Assam - 27.43%
Bihar - 21.68%
Chhattisgarh - 35.47%
Jammu and Kashmir - 26.61%
Karnataka - 22.34%
Kerala - 25.61%
Madhya Pradesh - 28.15%
Maharashtra - 18.83%
Manipur - 33.22%
Rajasthan - 26.84%
Tripura - 36.42%
Uttar Pradesh - 24.31%
West Bengal - 31.25%
Amid phase 2 of polling for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has lodged several complaints over EVM issues and central forces intimidating female voters in West Bengal.
The party lodged 58 complaints between 7 to 8 am and 54 complaints between 8 to 9 am.
BJP's Bengal chief and Balurghat candidate Sukanta Majumdar on Friday went to cast vote along with his wife but did not find his name on the list. The name was found later after he created a scene at the polling booth.
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Voters present there started protesting against Majumdar, who was accompanied by Central forces for troubling them. Majumdar was also seen entering into a verbal spat with the voters at the booth. The Bengal BJP chief claimed one of the workers of his party was beaten up outside the booth and there were Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers within 100 metres of the booth.
"The police is doing nothing. TMC workers within 100 metres of the booth is shouting slogan at us. Our booth agent was beaten up. The TMC is indulging in hooliganism to win the election," said Majumdar, IE reported.
Amid the polling for phase 2, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "Karnataka is going to poll; the state is giving very big results and people are very happy as whatever we said in the last elections we have delivered...Women are cutting across the party line, all of them are favouring us and I thank all of them...For the first-time voters- the youth of this country, I have to say that Congress has put up a beautiful manifesto...You have to make a change as it is needed, you have given 10 years and now let's go for a change..."
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah casts his vote at a polling booth in Siddaramana Hundi village of Chamarajanagar, while Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid casts his vote in Bengaluru.
Congress candidate from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram seat Shashi Tharoor says that the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is about India's future. "The country we have grown up in and took for granted have changed in the last 10 years. It has veered in a very different direction," he says.
Senior Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram. Second phase of polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is underway across 13 states today.
88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections. Here is the voter turnout till 9 am according to the ECI data:
Assam - 9.71%
Bihar - 9.84%
Chhattisgarh - 15.42%
Jammu and Kashmir - 10.39%
Karnataka - 9.21%
Kerala - 11.98%
Madhya Pradesh - 13.82%
Maharashtra - 7.45%
Manipur - 15.49%
Rajasthan - 11.77%
Tripura - 16.65%
Uttar Pradesh - 11.67%
West Bengal - 15.68%
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, businessman N R Narayana Murthy, his wife and Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty and former cricketer Rahul Dravid were among the early voters as polling began in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Union Minister and Bengaluru North BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje cast her vote on Friday. She said, "For its security and development, the country needs PM Narendra Modi for the third time. So, we are celebrating that festival today. We hope to win with a large margin from here..."
As 88 seats went to polls on Friday in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to participate in record numbers.
He took to X and stated, "Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice!"
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his family cast their votes at a polling booth in Jodhpur on Friday during phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections.
After exercising her franchise in Bengaluru, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "... I want more and more people to come out and vote...I think it is clear that people want a stable government, they want good policies, progress and development and that is why they are coming out. They want to see PM Modi continue his term..."
In the Phase 2 elections, in Kerala alone, over 2.77 crore people are eligible to vote, with more than five lakh being first-time voters. Rahul Gandhi, the incumbent MP from Wayanad, faces challenges from CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's K Surendran. Tharoor, aiming for his fourth win in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, competes against Chandrasekhar (BJP) and CPI's Pannyan Raveendran. Similarly, Hema Malini faces Congress's Mukesh Dhangar in Mathura, while Om Birla squares off against Prahlad Gunjal of the Congress in Kota. Union Minister Shekhawat seeks his third victory from Jodhpur, opposing Congress candidate Karan Singh Uchiyarda.