Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phase 5 of Polls Records 60% Voter Turnout

On Monday, over 53 million individuals cast their votes in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This phase covered 49 seats across six states and two Union territories, with a turnout of 60.5%, slightly lower than the 62.4% recorded five years ago. However, there was a noticeable increase in voting compared to the earlier phases of the current election.

In the fifth phase, which is the most city-centered among the seven phases, several prominent seats like Amethi, Rae Bareli, and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, six constituencies in Mumbai, Hajipur in Bihar, and Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir went to vote.

Voting took place in Uttar Pradesh (14 seats), Maharashtra (13 seats), West Bengal (7 seats), Bihar (5 seats), Odisha (5 seats), Jharkhand (3 seats), and one seat each in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh during the fifth phase on Monday.

West Bengal saw the highest voter turnout among states and Union Territories that voted on Monday, with 76 percent participation. According to the election commission, Bihar recorded 55 percent voting, Jharkhand 63 percent, Ladakh 70 percent, Maharashtra 54 percent, Odisha 69 percent, and Uttar Pradesh 58 percent among the states that went to the polls on Monday. The Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir saw its highest-ever voter turnout of 59 percent, surpassing the previous record of 61 percent set back in 1984.

The Election Commission reported receiving 1,036 complaints from various political parties, claiming issues with electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioning and agents being prevented from entering booths.

In West Bengal, there were some small outbreaks of violence. Similar incidents were reported in different areas of the Howrah Lok Sabha constituency. In Bongaon, a BJP leader got reportedly attacked by TMC supporters near a polling booth.

During the first phase on April 19, the final voter turnout was 66.14 percent, which was lower than the 69.29 percent recorded in 2019. Similarly, in the second phase on April 26, the turnout of 66.71 percent was lower than the 69.43 percent in 2019. In the third phase on May 7, the polling rate of 65.68 percent was lower than the 66.58 percent in 2019.

The next phase is scheduled for May 25, and the final phase will be on June 1. Vote counting and result declaration will take place on June 4.