Lok Sabha elections 2024 highlights: Over 60 pc polling until 5 pm; Assam, WB top turnout chart

Five states — Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka — are completing their polling in phase 3 of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections today. In Gujarat, BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal has already been elected unopposed from Surat after all other nominations were rejected or withdrawn.

The rest of Gujarat's 25 seats will go to the polls, along with 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, and four in West Bengal. Two seats in the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will also go to the polls today.

In 2019, the BJP had won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all seats in Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Assam 74.86 per cent

West Bengal 73.93 per cent

Goa 72.52 per cent

Chhattisgarh 66.87 per cent

Karnataka 66.05 per cent

Madhya Pradesh 62.28 per cent

Bihar 56.01 per cent

Gujarat 55.22 per cent

Uttar Pradesh 55.13 per cent

Maharashtra 53.40 per cent

Samajwadi Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav alleged that BJP workers were trying to loot booths in the state's Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency, and detaining people from opposition parties in police stations. Yadav, who cast his vote in Saifai (Etawah) for Mainpuri where his wife and sitting MP Dimple Yadav is in the fray, also alleged rigging of votes in some places.

In a post on X, he asked all party workers and INDIA alliance polling agents, office-bearers, candidates, and supporters to stay alert until every EVM was sealed.

Surat, where polling was due today, has already been won 'uncontested' by the BJP, since the Congress candidate was disqualified and all the other candidates withdrew from the fray. It certainly seems the NDA is going all-out to retain the 80 constituencies it had won in 2019, of which 72 seats are held by the BJP.

Eight of the 10 states that are polling today are known to be BJP strongholds and have BJP governments. On paper, therefore, the BJP and the NDA look well-placed to win big today — don't they?

For the answer, read our special report here

A voter turnout of 58.19 per cent was recorded in Chhattisgarh till 3 pm. While the turnout was lower in urban seats like Raipur and Bilaspur, it was higher in tribal seats Sarguja and Raigarh.

A voter turnout of 54.09 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in nine Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh, where polling is underway in the third phase of the general elections, an election official said.

Of the nine, Betul recorded 59.63 per cent voting, Bhind 44.18 per cent, Bhopal 50.16 per cent, Guna 60.16 per cent, Gwalior 49.6 per cent, Morena 48.23 per cent, Rajgarh 63.69 per cent, Sagar 53.08 per cent and Vidisha 59.87 per cent, the official said.

An estimated 54.20 per cent voter turnout was reported till 3 pm in Karnataka, in 14 constituencies. Polling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. Of the 14 segments, the highest turnout of 59.65 per cent was recorded in Chikkodi, followed by Haveri at 58.45 per cent, and the lowest of 47.67 per cent in Gulbarga.

A voter turnout of 63.11 per cent was recorded until 3 pm in four Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the third phase of the general elections, a poll official said. According to the official, Murshidabad registered the highest voter turnout with 65.40 per cent followed by Malda Dakshin (62.90), Jangipur (62.57), and Malda Uttar (61.50).

A voter turnout of over 39 per cent was recorded until 1 p.m.

There have been sporadic reports of violence from West Bengal and of poll boycott in some villages in Uttar Pradesh.

However, social media has also seen concern over police brutality and selective neglect of targetting of Muslim voters in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, with a Samajwadi Party candidate getting into an altercation with police officers.

Talking to reporters in Sambhal, SP candidate Zia-ur-Rehman Barq alleged that a circle officer doubled up as a BJP worker and snatched bags and voter slips from SP workers and detained them. He requested the ECI to remove the officer immediately.

A voter turnout of 31.55 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in 11 of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra.

As per data shared by the authorities, Latur registered 32.71 per cent polling, Sangli 29.65 per cent, Baramati 27.55 per cent, Hathkanangale 36.17 per cent, Kolhapur 38.42 per cent, Madha 26.61 per cent, Osmanabad 30.54 per cent, Raigad 31.34 per cent, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg 33.91 per cent, Satara 32.78 per cent and Solapur 29.32 per cent.

Actor couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh were seen casting their votes in Latur. He is the son of Congress leader and former state chief minister late Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Some prominent contestants include 'royal scions' Shahu Chhatrapati of the Congress in Kolhapur and the BJP's Udayanraje Bhosale in Satara.

A total of 2.09 crore persons are eligible to vote for the 258 candidates contesting in the third phase.

As many as 23,036 polling centres have been set up in the state, to serve the 1,07,64,741 male voters, 1,02,26,946 female voters and 929 of a third gender.

BJP is going to have a very bad defeat because farmers, youth, businessmen, as people of every section are upset with them, remarked Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief.

A member of the INDIA bloc, he held the Election Commission and the BJM accountable as decision makers for the polling schedule in the extreme heat of April–May, claiming it was designed to discourage voters.

‘’This voting could have taken place a month earlier. I appeal to all my colleagues and voters to vote in large numbers,’’ said the SP supremo.

He also called on the electorate to avoid voting for the BSP, as it would be tantamount to voting for the BJP.

The presiding officer at a polling booth in Supaul, in Bihar—identified as Shailendra Kumar—passed away while on duty.

It was found he was diabetic and died possibly due to a heart attack.

The doctor on duty said: "He was rushed to the PHC, where he was declared dead. The body has been brought here to Sadar Hospital for postmortem. His relatives were informed and they too have reached here. Postmortem has been done."

Disabled voters made their way to many a polling booth across the 11 states (and union territories) voting today.

The heatwave sweeping the country has become a major source of worry for voters.

A heavy thunderstorm on the evening of Monday, 6 May, brought welcome relief to several districts in West Bengal, where the mercury had crossed 40 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Assam found relief in the light rain from multiple cyclonic circulations near the north-eastern states today.

The Prime Minister, addressing a rally in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, added that the Congress was stabbing Babasaheb Ambedkar in the back. He did not clarify in what way.

"India is at a turning point in history; you have to decide if vote jihad will work or Ram Rajya," Modi claimed.

Khargone goes to the polls on 13 May, in the fourth phase

A voter turnout of 29.90 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies being polled in the third and last phase of the general elections in the state.

Polling is being held in Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir–Champa (reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates), Surguja and Raigarh (both reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates).

The state has 11 Lok Sabha seats in all.

"Voting is a right, a privilege and a responsibility," said Adani, as he voted with his family in Ahmedabad. He posted on X to announce he'd done his duty by the nation, and promptly got trolled for it:

Polling has been underway peacefully for the last three hours in the four Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, with a relatively high turnout of 15.85 per cent until 9 a.m.

Altogether 73,37,651 voters, including 36,12,395 women and 154 belonging to a third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Voters were seen lining up outside the 7,360 polling stations in the four parliamentary constituencies of Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Murshidabad and Jangipur.

Jangipur recorded the highest turnout (16.95 per cent), followed by Maldaha Dakshin (16.33), Maldaha Uttar (15.33) and Murshidabad (14.87).

While 182 complaints have been lodged with the CEO of West Bengal, the official added, "Our officials are keeping a close watch on the proceedings."

An estimated 9.45 percent turnout was reported during the first two hours since voting began for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka in 14 constituencies.

Queues were seen at polling booths in most of the northern districts of the state with voters, mostly senior citizens, morning walkers and joggers, lining up to cast their votes early, with temperatures expected to rise as the day progresses.

In Chhattisgarh, seven constituencies are going to the polls today—Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir–Champa, Surguja and Raigarh. The last three seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

Fittingly, then, voters were greeted by tribal performers on drums in some booths.

Altogether 168 candidates are in the fray in the third phase in Chhattisgarh, which has 11 Lok Sabha seats in all. The BJP currently holds nine of these.

A total of 1,39,01,285 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the third phase, being held amidst heightened security.

State minister Priyank Kharge of the Indian National Congress was seen casting his vote at the polling station in Gundugurthi village, in Kalaburagi constituency.

BJP minister Prahlad Joshi was seen praying and seeking the comfort of the ritual flames as he headed out to vote from his residence in Hubbali.

The supremo of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) was out early to cast his ballot, presumably in favour of his daughter Supriya Sule, the NCP (SP) candidate here.

Sule faces off against the NCP's Sunetra Pawar, wife of her rebel cousin Ajit Pawar, who joined hands with the BJP in the state government.

Ajit and Sunetra Pawar were also both seen casting their vote.

While the rest of India roasts, voters in Assam are queued up in defiance of the drizzle.

Four constituencies—Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri and Kokrajhar—are at the hustings, featuring 47 candidates in this third and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Prominent parties are AIUDF, Congress, CPI(M) and the BJP here.

There are 82.11 lakh voters, including 40.84 women and 112 of a third gender, eligible to exercise their franchise at the 9,516 polling stations here.

Religious polarisation as well as ethnic divides have been a key theme in this region.

In a post on X, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says:

'11 crore people in 93 constituencies shall exercise their democratic right, not just to elect their representatives, but shall decide whether they want to secure their constitutional rights or witness our great nation veer towards dictatorship.'

'We are right in the middle of the battle. A correct decision now can create an India where NYAY i.e. justice is supreme.'

Many booths in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, Bengal see early voters taking advantage of the lower temperatures and canopies.

However, the sun is already strong, despite the arrangements for shade.

Local media have just recorded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival at his designated polling booth at Nishan Public School in the Ranip locality of Gujarat's Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat.

He was seen waving and giving out autographs, as well as posing for photo ops, ahead of voting (presumably) for himself and the BJP candidate—the union home minister.

Home minister Amit Shah beat him to the booth by a few minutes, reportedly

More than 11 lakh voters in the coastal state are eligible to exercise their franchise in North Goa and South Goa seats, where the ruling BJP and opposition Congress are locked in a straight fight.

In South Goa, industrialist Pallavi Shrinivas Dempo, is the wealthiest contestant in Phase 3 overall, with a declared wealth of Rs 1,361 crore. She takes on Congress leader Capt. Viriato Fernandes.

Shrinivas Dempo's husband is the chairman of the Dempo Group of Companies. He had purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 1.25 crore in January 2022, just ahead of the Goa assembly elections.

Here, the 78-year-old Congress leader Francisco Sardinha is the incumbent MP and the seat is considered a Congress bastion as the grand old party has won the seat 10 times.

Goa has 40 dedicated 40 if its polling stations across both districts to a 'pink booth' campaign. The intent is to encourage and empower women voters and promote gender equality in polling, according to officials here.

Voting started at 7 a.m. in Araria, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Madhepura and Khagaria, all currently held by NDA MPs.

Over 98 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 54 candidates in these five seats. There are a total of 40 seats in Bihar, of which the RJD is contesting 26.

2.59 crore voters will vote today for one of 227 candidates across 14 seats, as Karnataka completes polling in its second round of the Lok Sabha elections.

All of the 14 seats are currently held by the BJP—but there is considerable upset over the double Revanna scandals.

The Congress-led state government has announced financial support for the many survivors of sexual abuse and assault in the Prajwal Revanna case.

Besides the walkover in Surat, a couple of other constituencies saw shake-ups in their polling schedule too.

The Election Commission has also postponed polling in the Anantnag–Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir to 25 May, the sixth phase of the elections. It was originally supposed to vote today, 7 May, in the third phase.

In Madhya Pradesh’s Betul constituency, on the other hand, elections had originally been scheduled for phase 2. However, polling for this seat was pushed to phase 3 due to the death of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

In phase 3, Gujarat had the maximum of nomination forms (658) from its 26 parliamentary constituencies, followed by Maharashtra with 519 nominations from 11 seats.

Seatwise, the Osmanabad parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra received the maximum nomination forms (77), per the ECI, followed by Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh (68).

Before voting can commence in phase 3 of the general elections, the ECI has already ordered repolling at one booth in Rajasthan's Barmar Lok Sabha constituency that voted on 26 April, due to a 'breach of vote confidentiality'.

The electorate assigned to the booth in Dudhwa Khurd village (in the Chohtan assembly constituency) will now vote tomorrow, 8 May.

Rajasthan's chief electoral officer (CEO) Praveen Gupta said that four members of the polling team that conducted the voting here on 26 April have been suspended.

Action will be taken against them under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, for violating the secrecy of voting, he added.

With the mercury soaring past 40 degrees Celsius in many states, what will the turnout look like in the searing heat of 7 May? That's a question nagging many parties and political observers as 11 states and union territories go to the polls in phase 3, including the entirety of Gujarat.

Of the 93 constituencies voting today, the BJP is defending has sitting MPs from 71 of the seats.

Polling was originally scheduled across 94 constituencies—but Gujarat’s Surat has been won by the BJP unopposed, with the Congress candidate's nomination declared invalid and eight others withdrawing in quick succession.