Lok Sabha Polls: 63% Voting In Sixth Phase
- 12-May-2019
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New Delhi: The sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections saw 63 per cent voting on Sunday. In West Bengal, 80 per cent voters participate where sporadic incidents of violence were reported.
In the national capital, political heavyweights like Congress leaders Sheila Dikshit, Ajay Maken and Union minister Harshwardhan were in fray, 60.02 per cent voters exercised their franchise. Haryana, where voting took place on all ten seats, saw 63 per cent voting, while 60 per cent turnout was recorded in Madhya Pradesh, 65 per cent in Jharkhand, 59 in Bihar and 54 in Uttar Pradesh.
Violence plagues voting in Bengal
Like in the previous phases of polling, TMC-ruled West Bengal witnessed violence in several areas including West Midnapore in the sixth phase also. In Ghatal, BJP candidate Bharti Ghosh was attacked by locals when she was visiting her polling station. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that in the garb of deploying central forces, BJP workers and RSS activists are being pushed into the state.
Peaceful voting in Delhi amid AAP allegations.
Delhi witnessed over 60 per cent turnout, down from 65 per cent in 2014. Aam Aadmi Party’s South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha accused BJP workers of casting bogus votes in Sangam Vihar.
Booth capturing charge in Haryana
Around 63 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana, where there were reports of minor skirmishes from some parts, including Fatehabad, Nuh in Mewat, Sirsa and Gurgaon between supporters of political parties.
Congress candidate from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda Sunday alleged that Haryana minister Manish Grover indulged in booth capturing as Haryana went to polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Bihar sees 59% turnout
Eight seats in Bihar also went to polls in the sixth phase, recording estimated 59.38 per cent turnout. All of these seats were secured by the BJP-led NDA in 2014. In Sheohar constituency, Shivendra Kishore, a man in his early 30s, succumbed to a bullet injury that he had received when a homeguard accidentally fired his gun while cleaning it at a polling station. An FIR has been lodged in this connection and the homeguard arrested, Sheohar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rakesh Kumar said.
EVM glitches in Uttar Pradesh, poll official beaten up
Over 54 per cent polling was reported till 6 pm in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Of the 14 constituencies that went to polls in Uttar Pradesh, BJP had won 13 in 2014, with Azamgarh being the only exception.
The big guns who were in the fray included Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who is contesting from Azamgarh, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi from Pilibhit and Varun Gandhi from Sultanpur.
Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand see peaceful voting process
Coming to Madhya Pradesh, eight seats went to polls on Sunday, which recorded 59.96 per cent turnout. Rajgarh recorded the highest polling at 68.15 per cent, followed by Vidisha at 65.31 per cent and Guna, from where Congress general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia is seeking re-election, at 64.80 per cent. While seven of these seats were won by the BJP in 2014, the Guna constituency was won by the Congress.
Bhopal constituency saw a riveting contest between BJP’s Pragya Singh Thakur and Congress veteran Digvijay Singh. Singh failed to cast his vote from his constituency. “Yes I couldn’t go to vote to Rajgarh and I regret it. Next time I will register my name in Bhopal,”
In Jharkhand voters of Giridih, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur and Singhbhum (ST) constituencies voted to decide the fate of 67 candidates in Sunday’s election. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress are part of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Jharkhand.
