As of 3 PM on Monday, the fifth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed an approximate voter turnout of 47.53 per cent across 49 constituencies in six states and two Union Territories.
In Maharashtra, voter enthusiasm was subdued, recording the lowest turnout at 38.77 per cent, while West Bengal surged ahead with the highest turnout of 62.72 per cent among states. Bihar recorded a turnout of 45.33 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 44.90 per cent, Jharkhand 53.90 per cent, Ladakh 61.26 per cent, Odisha 48.95 per cent, and Uttar Pradesh 47.55 per cent.
In Uttar Pradesh, specific constituencies reported turnout figures: Amethi at 45.13 per cent and Rae Bareli at 47.83 per cent.
According to the Election Commission, a turnout of 45.33 per cent in five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar till 3 PM. Notable figures include Muzaffarpur with over 49.99 per cent turnout, Sitamarhi at 45.19 per cent, Hajipur at 44.59 per cent, Madhubani at 43.77 per cent, and Saran at 43.13 per cent.
In Jharkhand, a substantial turnout of nearly 54 per cent was recorded till 3 PM across three Lok Sabha constituencies. Chatra led with 54.74 per cent, Hazaribag with 52.82 per cent, and Koderma with 54.19 per cent. The overall turnout in Jharkhand stood at 53.90 per cent. This phase featured 22 candidates in Chatra, 15 in Koderma, and 17 in Hazaribag.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai continued to disappoint with voter turnout failing to cross 40 percent. Specific turnout figures for Mumbai constituencies were as follows: Mumbai North at 39.33 per cent, Mumbai North Central at 37.66 per cent, Mumbai North East at 39.15 per cent, Mumbai North West at 39.91 per cent, Mumbai South at 36.64 percent, and Mumbai South Central at 38.77 per cent.
West Bengal saw a robust turnout, with 62.72 percent of the 1,25,23,702 electorate casting their vote in seven Lok Sabha constituencies. The Arambag (SC) constituency registered the highest polling at 67.12 percent, followed by Uluberia at 66.45 percent, Hooghly at 65.01 percent, Sreerampur at 63.05 percent, Bangaon (SC) at 61.83 percent, Howrah at 58.81 percent, and Barrackpore at 55.34 percent.
Over 8.95 crore people, including 4.26 crore females and 5,409 third-gender electors, are eligible to vote in this round. A total of 9.47 lakh polling officials have been deployed across 94,732 polling stations.
Among the seats going to polls, 13 are in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha, one in Jammu and Kashmir, and the lone seat in Ladakh. This round covers the least number of seats (49) in the seven-phase polls.
Voting is also being held in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is among the candidates. Polling for 23 states and Union territories and 379 seats has been completed so far. The sixth and seventh phases are on May 25 and June 1, respectively. The counting of votes is on June 4.