Lok Sabha Elections Phase 3 Highlights: Polling for the third stage of the seven-phase elections concluded at 6 pm, with with 61.08 per cent overall voter turnout. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and several other leader and celebrities were among the voters who exercised their franchise during today’s electoral cycle.
A total of 94 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and union territories voted. The campaigning for the third phase ended at a high-decibel note on Sunday as the political parties intensified their poll blitz. 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. While the INDIA bloc comprises political parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the NDA consists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United).
The states and UTs that voted in phase 3 include Assam (4 seats), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Goa (2), Gujarat (26), Karnataka (14), Madhya Pradesh (8), Maharashtra (11), Uttar Pradesh (10), West Bengal (4), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. With this phase, polling will conclude in Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa. Among the prominent contestants were Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna) Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad), Supriya Sule (Baramati), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur), Dimple Yadav (Mainpuri), Shripad Naik (North Goa), Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) and Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh).
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 3 Voting Highlights: Voting took place across 94 seats. A total of 1,351 candidates were in the fray. Follow Financial Express for all the election-related latest updates.
During the voting for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in Jangipur, Murshidabad, a clash broke out between a TMC booth president and BJP candidate Dhananjay Ghosh at a polling station on Tuesday.
Ghosh alleged that he was threatened by the TMC worker, highlighting concerns over the safety of candidates and citizens alike. He also threatened to take up the matter to the Election Commission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning urged the voters to exercise their franchise and “strengthen our democracy”.
He took to X and stated, “Voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections! Urging everyone to do so as well and strengthen our democracy.”
Voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections! Urging everyone to do so as well and strengthen our democracy. pic.twitter.com/PlLCw7Fwe3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2024
#WATCH | Latur, Maharashtra: Actor Riteish Deshmukh says, "I came to Latur from Mumbai to cast my vote. Everyone should come out of their houses and cast votes. Today is an important day. Everyone should definitely vote…" pic.twitter.com/nZLk4cxmNM
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his family cast their votes at a polling booth in Sehore on Tuesday. He is the BJP‘s candidate from Vidisha in this electoral process where voting is taking place in the third phase.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a light-hearted moment with a child as he greets people after casting his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad, Gujarat #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/h1QI7l1dDD
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad on Tuesday as all 26 seats in Gujarat went to polls amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi was also accompanied by Home Minister and BJP candidate from Gandhinagar, Amit Shah.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets people after casting his vote for #LokSabhaElections2024 at a polling booth in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also present. pic.twitter.com/0UOfKDacd0
Voter turnout in Phase 1 and 2 of the Lok Sabha elections dipped to 66.14 per cent and 66.71 per cent, respectively, according to the Election Commission, making a decrease from the 2019 polls, which saw turnouts of 69.43 per cent and 69.17 per cent in the first and second phases.
One of the most keenly-watched constituency battles in this phase is of course the Pawar vs Pawar battle in Baramati, Maharashtra. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule, seeking re-election from Baramati, faces her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Baramati is a closely watched seat.
Among the prominent contestants are Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna) Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad), Supriya Sule (Baramati), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur), Dimple Yadav (Mainpuri), Shripad Naik (North Goa), Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) and Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh).
Facing the heat literally with the temperature expected to breach 43 C on voting day, PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s home state Gujarat is voting for 26 Lok Sabha seats today.
While inflation, surging unemployment and urban sustainability issues are the main grouses of voters this time round, lack of strong opposition candidates in most of the constituencies is causing concern that this may well be a one-sided contest. Read more
In the third phase, polling will take place across 94 Lok Sabha constituencies covering 10 states and two UTs. The states in phase 3 include Assam (4 seats), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Goa (2), Gujarat (26), Karnataka (14), Madhya Pradesh (8), Maharashtra (11), Uttar Pradesh (10), West Bengal (4), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. With this phase, polling will conclude in Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.
The voting on 94 seats across 12 states and union territories began on Tuesday morning amid tight security arrangements.
The first phase of polling took place on April 19, covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The second phase of elections was held in 88 seats across 13 states. The voter turnout was recorded at 60.96 per cent and nearly 61 per cent for phase 1 and 2 polling, respectively.