In the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2 polling is taking place in 88 seats across 12 states and a UT. Voting takes place in the Outer Manipur seat as well.
A tribal-themed polling station in Mysuru. (ECI website)
The long wait has begun for 1,210 candidates in 88 seats spread over 13 states and a Union Territory after the completion of the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, 26 April.
The Election Commission put the voter turnout at over 60 percent, which could change when last-minute voters, too, are taken into account. Barring a few minor incidents, the polling was peaceful.
Of the 88 seats polled on Friday, the NDA had won 65 in 2019, while the INDIA bloc constituents emerged victorious in 23.
Rahul Gandhi, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Shashi Tharoor, V Muraleedharan, KC Venugopal, Arun Govil (who portrayed Lord Ram in the Ramayan TV series), Hema Malini, Om Birla, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Bhupesh Baghel, and Sukanta Majumdar are some of the heavyweights, whose fates were sealed on Friday.
Polling was held in 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura.
In the first phase held a week ago on 19 April, around 66.1 percent of total voters cast their votes to decide the fortunes of 1,625 candidates.
The third phase of the polls is scheduled for 7 May. Results will be announced on 4 June.
Over 60 percent polling was recorded till 7.20 pm on Friday in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states amid complaints of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal.
Voters in some villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani boycotted polls over various issues but were persuaded by authorities to cast their franchise.
Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and was to continue till 6 pm. Several states are experiencing intense heat conditions.
The provisional polling percentages at 7.20 pm were:
Assam: 70. 68
Bihar: 53.60
Chhattisgarh: 72.51
Jammu and Kashmir: 67.22
Karnataka: 64.47
Kerala: 64.99
Madhya Pradesh: 55.19
Maharashtra: 53.71
Manipur: 76.46
Rajasthan: 59.69
Tripura: 77.95
Uttar Pradesh: 53.02
West Bengal: 71.84
More than 67 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the Jammu constituency in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
The voting began at 7 am in 2,416 polling stations in the constituency and is going on peacefully, the election officials said and added that 67.22 percent votes were polled till 5 pm.
The Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a voter turnout of 79.50 percent till 5 pm on Friday, as polling remained peaceful so far, an official said.
The voter turnout may cross 80 percent as many voters were seen standing in queues at polling stations even after 5 pm, said Returning Officer (RO), Saju Vaheed.
More than 72 percent of voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in three Lok Sabha constituencies, all having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh, where the second phase of the general elections was held on Friday, officials said
Polling began in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 am and was held in different time slots. A turnout of 72.13 percent was registered till 5 pm, an election official said.
Polling in all the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala for the 2024 general election concluded at 6 pm on Friday with the state recording a provisional voter turnout of 69.04 percent.
Though the official time for polling ended at 6 pm, huge queues were seen outside polling booths across the state and therefore, the final turnout percentage is likely to go up. Tokens were issued to voters waiting in the queues.
Kerala had seen a voter turnout of 77.84 percent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Constituency-wise break-up (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram - 65.68
Attingal - 68.84
Kollam - 66.87
Pathanamthitta - 63.05
Mavelikkara - 65.29
Alappuzha - 72.84
Kottayam - 65.29
Idukki - 65.88
Ernakulam - 67.00
Chalakudy - 70.68
Thrissur - 70.59
Palakkad - 71.25
Alathur - 70.88
Ponnani - 65.62
Malappuram - 69.61
Kozhikode - 71.25
Wayanad - 71.69
Vadakara - 71.27
Kannur - 73.80
Kasaragod- 72.52
A voter turnout of 52.74 percent was recorded till 5 pm in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh where voting was held in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
The constituencies that went to polls in this phase are Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura.
According to the Election Commission (EC), 61.89 percent polling was recorded in Amroha till 5 pm, followed by 55.49 percent in Meerut, 52.74 percent in Baghpat, 48.21 percent in Ghaziabad, 51.66 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 54.34 in Bulandshahr, 54.36 percent in Aligarh and 46.96 in Mathura
A voter turnout of 53.51 percent was recorded till 5 pm in eight constituencies of Maharashtra in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
Voting was held between 7 am and 6 pm in Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha and Yavatmal-Washim seats in Vidarbha (eastern Maharashtra) and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in the central Marathwada region.
Till 5 pm, Wardha recorded 56.66 percent turnout, Amravati 54.50, Yavatmal-Washim 54.04, Parbhani 53.79, Akola 52.49, Nanded 52.47, Buldhana 52.24 and Hingoli 52.03, election officials said.
Banjarumale, an interior hamlet in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, recorded 100 percent voting in the Lok Sabha election on Friday.
This hamlet has 111 voters and all of them turned up at the only polling booth, completing voting two hours before polling ended at 6 pm.
The hamlet is inhabited by forest dwellers, tribal farmers, and collectors of minor forest waste. Despite having no power or transport connectivity, the people survive in the forest using water from the perennial water sources in the hills of the Western Ghats.
A 26-year-old man allegedly damaged an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) by hitting it with an iron object when he came to cast his vote at a polling booth at Rampuri in Maharashtra's Nanded district on Friday, a police official said.
The police detained the man, who told them that he wanted a pro-farmer and pro-labourer government, he said.
"The man, Bhaiyyasaheb Edke, is a local resident and a registered voter of Rampuri booth. He came to the polling booth to cast his vote, but damaged an EVM with an iron object. He was immediately detained and the voting process continued soon afterwards as the broken machine was replaced with a new one," Nanded Superintendent of Police (SP) Shrikrushna Kokate told PTI.
The Electronic Voting Machines were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district in Karnataka on Friday during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not in the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the district administration, the villagers had earlier in the day decided to boycott the polls citing lack of adequate infrastructure development. However, after assurances and efforts by the local officials, polling went underway.
As per preliminary information, one of the groups wanted to vote while the other was keen to boycott leading to clashes between them during which they destroyed EVMs, and also indulged in stone-pelting.
Nearly 60 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where polling is underway under the second phase on Friday.
According to the official data, 59.19 percent voter turnout was recorded in 13 constituencies of Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota-Bundi, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran.
At the same time, 73.25 percent voting took place in the byelection for Bagidora assembly constituency of Banswara district.
A voter turnout of 53.03 percent was recorded till 5 pm in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling was underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said.
Kishanganj recorded a voter turnout of 56.12 percent, Katihar registered 55.54 percent, Purnea recorded 55.14 percent, Bhagalpur registered 47.26 percent and Banka recorded 49.50 percent till 5 pm, officials said.
At least 54.83 percent of voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm in six constituencies in Madhya Pradesh in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, an official said.
Till 5 pm, Hoshangabad recorded a voter turnout of 63.44 percent, followed by Tikamgarh at 57.19 percent, Satna at 57.18 percent, Damoh at 53.66 percent, Khajuraho at 52.91 percent and Rewa at 45.02 percent, he said.
Polling to elect 20 MPs to the 18th Lok Sabha officially has ended in Kerala.
However, long queues of voters were seen in several polling stations. The polling time is likely to be extended to allow those who had entered the station premises before 6 pm.
Kozhikode District Electoral Officer Snehal Kumar Singh informed that the presiding officers of two booths have been changed following complaints of dereliction of duty.
The changed officers were presiding over polling stations 61 and 162 of the Nadapuram Legislative Assembly constituency.
Karnataka reported a voter turnout of 63.90 percent till 5.30 pm on Friday.
Udupi Chikmagalur: 72.13
Hassan: 72.13
Dakshina Kannada: 71.83
Chitradurga: 67.00
Tumkur: 72.10
Mandya: 74.87
Mysore: 65.85
Chamarajanagar: 69.60
Bangalore Rural: 61.78
Bangalore North: 50.04
Bangalore Central: 48.61
Bangalore South: 49.37
Chikkballapur: 70.97
Kolar: 71.26
Approximate voter turnout in Kerala touched 64.73 percent at 5.15 pm.
Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Alappuzha, Chalakudy, Thrissur, Palakkad, Alathur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Vadakara, Kannur and Kasaragod, reported 65 or more percent of voters getting inked.
Kerala reported seven deaths related to polls on Friday.
While Palakkad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram reported two deaths each, while Alappuzha reported one.
Five people collapsed and died after casting their votes. One man, Saidu Haji, was killed in a road accident after returning from the polling booth.
The deceased people have been identified as KM Aneez Ahammad, 71, of Kozhikode; Chandran, 68, and S Sabari, 32, of Palakkad; Siddique, 63, and Saidu Haji, 75, of Malappuram; Somarajan, 82, of Alappuzha and Kannumal Mami of Vadakara in Kozhikode.
The Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a voter turnout of 69.48 percent till 3 pm on Friday, as polling remained peaceful so far, an official said.
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is the Congress candidate in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, said he had received complaints that his photos on the Electronic Voting Machines are smaller and unclear as compared to those of his rivals.
Polling in Rajnandgaon is underway along with two other parliamentary seats - Kanker and Mahasamund - on Friday in the second phase of general elections.
"This exposes @ECISVEEP's claims of impartiality. Has this been done under a conspiracy? But this is not going to change the result," he added.
A voter turnout of 63.92 percent was recorded till 3 pm on Friday in three Lok Sabha constituencies, all having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections on Friday, an official said.
The tribal-dominated Kanker seat recorded 67.50 per cent turnout, Mahasamund 63.30 percent and Rajnandgaon 61.34 percent, he said.
As many as 58.52 percent of the total electorate in Kerala exercised their franchise by 4 pm on Friday.
Alappuzha, Chalakkudy, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod recorded 60 percent or more as the polling is drawing to a close.
The state is witnessing a tight between the LDF and UDF, while the NDA is trying to open its account in the Lok Sabha from Kerala.
In 2019, the UDF won 19 out of Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats. The LDF won only in Alappuzha, where AICC general secretary KC Venugopal is pitted against the sitting MP, AM Arif, of the CPI(M). BJP's firebrand leader Sobha Surendran is also in the fray in Alappuzha.
Various church factions in Kerala on Friday urged the people to go and vote for those supporting secularism and democracy in the general elections in the southern state.
Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the influential Syro-Malabar Church, after casting his vote, said the church wants everyone to live peacefully in the country.
Malankara Orthodox Syrian church head Baselios Marthoma Mathews III said the elections will help elect a new government for the betterment of the country.
Thrissur Archbishop and CBCI president Archbishop Andrews Thazhath said he was devastated after witnessing the situation in Manipur and said people will vote for those who support secularism and democracy.
A voter turnout of 48.68 percent was recorded till 3 pm in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh in the second phase of general elections on Friday, an official said.
Till 3 pm, Damoh recorded a voter turnout of 45.69 percent, Hoshangabad 55.79, Khajuraho 43.89, Rewa 37.55, Satna 47.68 and Tikamgarh 49.84 percent, the official said.
A voter turnout of 44.24 percent was recorded till 3 pm in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling was underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said.
Purnea recorded a voter turnout of 46.78 percent, Katihar (46.76 percent), Kishanganj (45.58 percent), Banka (42.89 percent) and Bhagalpur (39.49 percent) till 3 pm, officials said.
An estimated 60.32 percent of 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise till 3 pm in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam, where polling is underway in the second phase on Friday, election officials said.
The highest polling of 64.43 percent was recorded in Darrang-Udalguri, closely followed by 60.74 percent in Diphu (ST), 60.56 percent in Nagaon, 60.36 percent in Karimganj and 53.06 percent in Silchar, they said.
A voter turnout of 43.01 percent was recorded till 3 pm in eight constituencies in Maharashtra in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
Wardha recorded 45.95 percent turnout, Akola 42.69 percent, Amravati 43.76 percent, Buldhana 41.66 percent, Hingoli 40.5 percent, Nanded 42.42 percent, Parbhani 44.49 percent and Yavatmal-Washim 42.55 percent, election officials said.
In Rajasthan, more than 50 percent voting took place in 13 Lok Sabha seats by 3 pm.
50.27 percent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm across the 13 parliamentary constituencies. At the same time, 66.52 per cent of voting took place in the Bagidora Assembly constituency, according to official data.
The highest voter turnout of 60.01 percent was recorded in the tribal-dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat in South Rajasthan by 3 pm while the Barmer-Jaisalmer seat located along the Indo-Pak border recorded 59.71 percent voting.
Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 42.61 percent till 3 pm, according to official data.
Voting percentage in other constituencies till 3 pm stood at 43.28 in Ajmer, 45.39 in Bhilwara, 51.71 in Chittorgarh, 49.85 in Jalore, 56.12 in Jhalawar, 50 in Jodhpur, 54.78 in Kota, 44.27 in Pali, 43.94 in Rajsamand and 51.60 in Udaipur.
Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal recorded over 60 percent voting till 3 pm in the second phase of polling on Friday, an Election Commission official said.
Darjeeling continued to record the highest voter turnout of 61.97 percent, while Raiganj and Balurghat registered 60.20 percent and 59.53 percent polling, respectively, he said.
A voter turnout of 44.13 percent was recorded till 3 pm in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, according to officials.
According to the Election Commission (EC), 51.44 percent votes were polled in Amroha, 47.52 percent in Meerut, 42.92 percent in Baghpat, 41.13 percent in Ghaziabad, 44.08 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 44.54 in Bulandshahr, 44.08 percent in Aligarh and 39.45 in Mathura till 3 pm.
With less than three hours remaining for the conclusion of polling in the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the state registered a turnout of 52.25 percent at 3.20 pm on Friday.
As the day progressed, people continued to queue up in increasing numbers outside the over 25,000 polling booths in the state, braving the rising temperatures, to cast their vote.
At 3.20 pm, the highest turnout was registered in the northern Kerala Lok Sabha constituency of Kannur at 54.96 percent with Alappuzha a close second at 54.78 percent.
Polling is slow in Bangalore Rural, North, Central, and South constituencies, whereas the remaining 10 constituencies polled more than 50 percent of votes by 3 pm on Friday.
Dakshina Kannada posted the highest voting percentage of 58.76, while Bangalore Central lagged far behind with 40.10 percent.
Among the four Bangalore constituencies, Bangalore Rural polled 49.62 percent, followed by North (41.12%) and South (40.77 percent).
Polling percentage at 3 pm.
Udupi-Chikamagalur 57.49
Hassan 55.92
Dakshina Kannada 58.76
Chitradurga 52.14
Tumkur 56.62
Mandya 57.44
Mysore 53.55
Chamarajanagar 54.82
Bangalore Rural 49.62
Bangalore North 41.12
Bangalore Central 40.10
Bangalore South 40.77
Chikkballapur 55.90
Kolar 54.66
JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday alleged that cash and gift vouchers were distributed in the Bengaluru Rural constituency, especially in Kanakapura Taluk.
Kumaraswamy alleged that some supporters of BJP and the JD(S), were attacked in Kanakapura Taluk and their shirts were torn off.
“‘Guarantee cards’ (gift vouchers) were distributed with which people can make purchases up to ₹10,000. When our boys made a noise, they were attacked,” he alleged.
Money was also distributed since Thursday night, he said, adding that in Kunigal Taluk, a man died by suicide after Congress workers "attacked, pestered and threatened him."
“Even after giving complaints to the Election Commission, no action was taken", Kumaraswamy said, and added sarcastically: "I want to tell the EC to allow people to openly allow distribution."
Approximate voter turnout in Kerala touched 50 % at 3 pm)
Constituencies with 50% or more voter turnout:
All constituencies, except Ponnani, crossed the 50% mark.
Long queues were seen outside various restaurants in the city on Friday after they offered free dosas, laddu, coffee and other food items for free or at discounted rates to customers who cast their vote in the Lok Sabha polls on Friday.
Many restaurants affiliated with Bruhath Bangalore Hotels Association (BBHA) have come up with this innovative idea to encourage voting in the IT city. Some of them are offering food either for free or at a discounted price to those who vote in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Nisarga Grand Hotel on Nrupatunga Road gave free "benne" (butter) dosa, laddu and juice to customers who showed their "inked fingers" on voting day under the 'Vote Maadi, Oota Maadi' (cast your vote and have food) campaign.
Citing that in the previous Lok Sabha polls, the voter turnout in Bengaluru was only 54 percent (much below average), BBHA President PC Rao said that though the city had a good number of educated and young voters, it had posted "very less percentage".
More than 600 voters of a remote tribal village in Dhalai district, part of Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, abstained from voting on Friday due to the unrepaired condition of a 7-km village road, an election official said.
The villagers, numbering around 900, have been persistently demanding repairs for months, emphasising the road's critical importance to their community, the official added.
The villagers are standing outside the polling booth but not entering it to cast their votes as they are protesting against government apathy, the official said.
"We are hopeful the villagers will join the festival of democracy, and the administration will look into their demands seriously", he said.
The villagers have also complained about the drinking water problem, he said, adding that after getting the report, a team of officials rushed to Sadai Mohan Para to persuade the voters to exercise their democratic rights.
Over 39 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first six hours of polling on Friday in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats in 13 states and Union territories amidst reports of EVM glitches and bogus voting in some booths in Kerala and West Bengal.
Voters in four villages of Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, Rajasthan's Banswara and Maharashtra's Parbhani boycotted polls over various issues.
Election officials said the highest voting percentage was recorded in Tripura which registered 54.47 per cent polling till 1 pm, while the lowest turnout was in Maharashtra at 31.77 per cent.
"Aggregate turnout at 1 pm in Phase 2 is 39.13 percent," the Election Commission said in a statement.
An estimated 46.31 percent of 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam, where polling is underway in the second phase on Friday, election officials said.
The highest polling of 49.72 percent was recorded in Darrang-Udalguri, closely followed by 49.14 percent in Karimganj, 46.40 percent in Diphu (ST), 44.48 percent in Nagaon and 40.23 percent in Silchar, they said.
Kannur recorded a voter turnout of 48.35 percent till 2 pm.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran is locked in a fierce battle with CPI(M) strongman MV Jayarajan in Kannur.
Attingal, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Chalakkudy, Thrissur, Palakkad, Alathur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, also recorded more than 45% turnout.
At least 53.09 percent of the electorate cast their votes till 1 pm in three constituencies, having Naxalite presence, in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, an official said.
"Amid tight security, polling began in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 am and was underway smoothly. Till 1 pm, 53.09 percent polling has been registered," the official said.
The tribal-dominated Kanker seat recorded a 60.15 percent voter turnout, followed by Mahasamund with 52.06 percent and Rajnandgaon with 47.82 percent, he said.
More than 42 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling in Jammu constituency in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
They added that 42.88 percent votes were polled till 1 pm The highest voter turnout (52.68 percent) was recorded in Jammu Lok Sabha constituency's Reasi Assembly segment till 1 pm, the officials said.
The Gulabgarh seat recorded 50.01 percent, followed by the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi segment noting 48.61 percent, Akhnoor 47.67 percent, Akhnoor 29.75 percent, Samba 29.59 percent, Nagrota 46.79 percent and Kalakote 46.46 percent.
The lowest voter turnout till 1 pm was recorded in the Jammu West segment at 31.49 percent, the officials said.
Three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal recorded over 47 percent voting till 1 pm in the second phase of polling on Friday, an Election Commission official said.
Darjeeling recorded the highest voter turnout of 49.09 percent, while Raiganj and Balurghat registered 47.56 percent and 44.93 percent polling, respectively, he said.
Approximate voter turnout at 2 pm: 44.86%
Constituency-wise polling (in percentage):
Thiruvananthapuram: 43.79
Attingal: 46.26
Kollam: 43.72
Pathanamthitta: 44.05
Mavelikkara: 44.15
Alappuzha: 47.14
Kottayam: 44.42
Idukki: 44.19
Ernakulam: 44.05
Chalakudy: 46.69
Thrissur: 45.65
Palakkad: 46.65
Alathur: 45.27
Ponnani: 40.38
Malappuram- 43.03
Kozhikode: 44.57
Wayanad: 45.98
Vadakara: 44.25
Kannur: 47.08
Kasaragod: 46.08
#Transgender person posing after casting their votes. A scene from Fort Girls Mission High School in Thiruvananthapuram, which is a model transgender person polling booth
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on… pic.twitter.com/yBOUXUGcrg
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there is "no Modi wave" in Karnataka but there is one in favour of Congress government's guarantee schemes, as he claimed his party will win about 20 out of a total of 28 Lok Sabha polls in the state.
"There is no Modi wave in Karnataka, the wave that is there is the 'guarantee wave'. Congress will win about 20 seats, because our guarantee schemes have reached the people and without any middlemen the money is reaching the bank accounts of the people directly every month," Siddaramaiah said.
He expressed confidence about people "blessing" the Congress party, as they did during the Assembly polls last year which saw his party scoring a thumping win.
A voter turnout of 33.80 percent was recorded till 1 pm in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling was underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said.
Purnea recorded a voter turnout of 36.59 percent, Katihar registered 35.37 percent, Kishanganj recorded 34.65 percent, Banka registered 32.32 percent and Bhagalpur recorded 30.29 percent till 1 pm, officials said.
Over 40 percent voting was recorded till 1 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where elections are being held in the second phase on Friday.
40.39 percent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm across the 13 parliamentary constituencies. At the same time, 51.50 percent voting took place in Bagidora assembly constituency, according to official data.
The highest voter turnout of 48.48 percent was recorded in Barmer-Jaisalmer located along the Indo-Pak border, followed by the tribal dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat in South Rajasthan where 46.53 percent electors cast votes by 1 pm.
Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 34.64 percent till 1 pm, according to official data.
Voting percentage in other constituencies till 1 am stood at 35.77 in Ajmer, 37.01 in Bhilwara, 40.50 in Chittorgarh, 41.47 in Jalore, 44.20 in Jhalawar, 39.90 in Jodhpur, 42.51 in Kota, 36.59 in Pali, 36.88 in Rajsamand and 41.32 in Udaipur.
A voter turnout of 31.77 percent was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in eight constituencies of Maharashtra in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, officials said.
As per the election office, till 1 pm, Parbhani recorded 33.88 percent voting, Nanded 32.93, Wardha 32.32, Akola 32.25, Yavatmal-Washim 31.47, Amravati 31.40, Hingoli 30.46 and Buldhana 29.07.
A voter turnout of 35.73 percent was recorded till 1 pm in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, according to officials.
Election Commission (EC) officials said 40.67 percent votes were polled in Amroha, 38.33 percent in Meerut, 34.17 percent in Baghpat, 33.99 percent in Ghaziabad, 36.05 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 35.35 in Bulandshahr, 35.55 percent in Aligarh and 32.70 in Mathura till 11 am.
Residents of a village in the Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency decided to boycott the elections on Friday to protest against the issue of encroachments, prompting the collector to visit the place and appeal to them.
Parbhani Collector and returning officer Raghunath Gawde arrived at Balsa Khurd village, located around 7 km from Parbhani city, and interacted with villagers, urging them to vote.
The village, which has 1,200 voters, boycotted the elections over the longstanding issue of encroachments.
Villagers will exercise their franchise if the administration gives a written assurance about resolving the issue, a resident of the village said.
A youth collapsed and died while returning home after casting his vote at a polling booth in Palakkad's Thenkurissi.
The cause of 32-year-old S Sabari's death is not immediately known.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority issued a yellow alert for Palakkad at 1 pm on Friday, warning of a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius till 30 April.
Earlier in the day, four senior citizens, Chandran of Palakkad, P Somarajan of Alappuzha, Aneez Ahammad of Kozhikode, and Siddique of Tirur, died of cardiac arrest.
Karnataka's 14 constituencies, where polling is being held on Friday, recorded a voter turnout of 38.23% till 1 pm. Dakshina Kannada witnessed the highest turnout of 48.10 percent.
Constituency-wise turnout is as below (in percentage):
Udupi Chikmagalur: 46.43
Hassan:40.99
Dakshina Kannada:48.10
Chitradurga:39.05
Tumkur:41.91
Mandya:40.70
Mysore:41.58
Chamarajanagar:39.57
Bangalore Rural:36.09
Bangalore North:32.25
Bangalore Central: 30.10
Bangalore South: 31.51
Chikkballapur 39.85
Kolar: 38.4
More than 26 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the Jammu constituency in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, officials said.
They added that 26.61 percent of votes were polled till 11 am. There are more than 17.80 lakh eligible voters in the constituency.
Four voters — all senior citizens — have died in separate incidents during polling in Kerala.
They died of cardiac arrest, reports said.
The deceased were Chandran of Palakkad, P Somarajan of Alappuzha, Aneez Ahammad of Kozhikode, and Siddique of Tirur.
Approximate voter turnout in Kerala rose to 38.01%.
Constituency-wise (in percentage):
Thiruvananthapuram - 37.20
Attingal - 40.16
Kollam - 37.38
Pathanamthitta -37.99
Mavelikkara - 38.19
Alappuzha - 39.90
Kottayam - 38.25
Idukki - 38.34
Ernakulam - 37.71
Chalakkudy - 39.77
Thrissur - 38.35
Palakkad - 39.71
Alathur - 38.33
Ponnani - 33.56
Malappuram - 35.82
Kozhikode - 36.87
Wayanad - 38.85
Vadakara - 36.25
Kannur - 39.44
Kasaragod- 38.66.
Approximate voter turnout in #Kerala rose to 38.01 % (at 1.05 pm)
Constituency wise : (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram- 37.20
Attingal- 40.16
Kollam- 37.38
Pathanamthitta-37.99
Mavelikkara- 38.19
Alappuzha- 39.90
Kottayam- 38.25As voting for phase two of… pic.twitter.com/4l5lRJaRku
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty died allegedly by suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Friday, police said.
Gariaband falls in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency where polling is underway in the second phase of the general elections.
The incident took place around 9.30 am at a government school in Kudedadar village under Piparchhedi police station limits where security personnel on poll duty have been stationed, a police official here said.
Head Constable Jiyalal Pawar allegedly shot himself with his service rifle in a room at the school, he said.
He was in the reserve team and was not deployed for active poll work, the official said. Pawar belonged to Batallion no. 34 of the MP Special Armed Force, he said.
Polling picked up in the initial hours in the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan where elections are being held in the second phase on Friday.
26.84 percent voter turnout was recorded in the Lok Sabha seats and 31 percent in the Bagidora Assembly constituency by 11 am, according to official data.
The highest voter turnout of 30.04 percent was recorded in the tribal dominated Banswara-Dungarpur seat, followed by Barmer where 29.58 per cent electors cast votes by 11 am.
Tonk-Sawai Madhopur recorded the lowest turnout of 24 per cent in the first four hours, according to official data.
Voting percentage in other constituencies till 11 am stood at 24.43 in Ajmer, 25.15 in Bhilwara, 26.48 in Chittorgarh, 28.50 in Jalore, 28.88 in Jhalawar, 25.75 in Jodhpur, 28.30 in Kota, 24.62 in Pali, 25.58 in Rajsamand and 27.46 in Udaipur.
A voter turnout of 21.68 percent was recorded till 11 am in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling was underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said.
In the first four hours, Purnea recorded a voter turnout of 25.9 percent, Katihar registered 22.65 percent, Kishanganj recorded 21.94 percent, Bhagalpur registered 19.27 percent and Banka recorded 18.75 percent, officials said.
The Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency recorded a voter turnout of 36.79 percent till 11 am on Friday, an official said.
"The polling has largely remained peaceful, with no untoward incident reported till 11 am. The average voting stands at 36.79 percent,” he said.
An estimated 27.43 percent of 77,26,668 voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in the five parliamentary constituencies of Assam, where polling is underway in the second phase on Friday, election officials said.
The highest polling of 30.82 percent was recorded in Diphu (ST), followed by 29.99 percent in Karimganj, 28.81 percent at Darrang-Udalguri, 25.29 percent in Nagaon and the lowest at 23.20 percent in Silchar, they said.
A voter turnout of 24.31 percent was recorded in the first four hours of polling in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, according to officials.
Election Commission (EC) officials said 28.45 percent votes were polled in Amroha, 25.67 percent in Meerut, 22.74 percent in Baghpat, 23.19 percent in Ghaziabad, 24.26 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, 23.43 in Bulandshahr, 24.42 percent in Aligarh and 23.07 in Mathura till 11 am.
"I want to tell the BJP supporters and voters that we are 80%, but on the polling day we come out and vote 20%, whereas the Congress supporters are 20% and they come out and vote 80%. Each BJP voter must come out and vote because our vote matters. If you are not voting, Congress's 20% is coming out and voting. No matter the heat, or the rain, it is your vote which will decide the future of the nation for the next five years. Please come out and vote."
— Tejasvi Surya, BJP MP from Bengaluru South
More than 35 percent of the electorate cast their votes in the first four hours of polling in three Lok Sabha constituencies, all having Naxalite presence, of Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections on Friday, an official said.
“Amid tight security, polling in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies began at 7 am and is underway smoothly. Till 11 am, 35.47 per cent polling has been registered,” a poll official said.
Till 11 am, Kanker seat had recorded a 39.38 percent turnout, Mahasamund 34.43 percent and Rajnandgaon 32.99 percent, he said.
A voter turnout of 33.22 percent was recorded till 11 am on Friday as polling was underway in the remaining parts of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency amid tight security, officials said.
In the first two hours, the Tengnoupal Assembly segment recorded the highest turnout at 45.28 percent, while the Jiribam Assembly segment recorded the lowest at 23.24 percent.
An argument broke out between voters, party agents, and officials at Attingal's Ayilam UPS over the alleged slow-paced polling.
It is alleged that the officials are inexperienced, causing the delay.
Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
An argument broke out between voters, polling agents, and polling officials at Attingal's Ayilam UPS as voting was progressing at a slow pace.
It is alleged that the officials posted here are inexperienced and it is causing the delay.
Police had intervened and is said to have… pic.twitter.com/TsiJhAR9t5
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Maharashtra saw an 18.83 percent voter turnout till 11 am in eight constituencies in Maharashtra in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, officials said.
Till 11 am, as per poll officials, Wardha had recorded an 18.35 percent turnout, Akola 17.37, Amravati 17.73, Buldhana 17.92, Hingoli 18.19, Nanded 20.85, Parbhani 21.77, Yavatmal Washim 18.01 percent.
Approximate voter turnout in the state crossed 30%
Total turnout - 31.06%
Constituency wise: (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram - 30.59
Attingal - 33.18
Kollam - 30.86
Pathanamthitta -31.39
Mavelikkara - 31.46
Alappuzha - 32.58
Kottayam - 31.39
Idukki - 31.16
Ernakulam - 30.86
Chalakudy - 32.57
Thrissur - 31.35
Palakkad - 32.58
Alathur - 30.92
Ponnani - 27.20
Malappuram - 29.11
Kozhikode - 30.16
Wayanad - 31.74
Vadakara - 29.53
Kannur - 31.82
Kasaragod - 31.14
The Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency in Uttar Pradesh recorded 24.48 percent voting till 11 am for the Lok Sabha election on Friday, according to official figures.
The constituency is spread across five Assembly segments Noida, Dadri and Jewar, Khurja and Sikandrabad.
According to figures shared by the district information office for voter turnout till 11 am, Noida had recorded 21.3 percent, Dadri 24.80 percent, Jewar 25.87 percent, Sikandrabad 27.17 percent and Khurja 26.22 percent.
The total polling percentage in the constituency was 24.48 percent till 11 am, the statement added.
As part of a green initiative, the first 100 voters who cast their votes at booth number 40 in the Beypore Assembly constituency in the Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency were given vegetable seedlings packets.
Green polling booth at Kozhikode (booth number 40 of Beypore Assembly Constituency)
The officials here had handed over vegetable seedlings packets to first 100 voters
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on… pic.twitter.com/D5PgM35OLd
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Over 31 percent of 51.17 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in three Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal.
Darjeeling recorded the highest voter turnout of 32.75 percent, while Raiganj and Balurghat registered 32.51 percent and 28.11 percent polling, respectively.
The commission has so far received 290 complaints, mostly related to EVM malfunctioning.
About 28.15 percent of voters cast their ballots till 11 am in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh in the second phase of general elections on Friday, an official said.
The polling began at 7 am and is going on peacefully in all the six Lok Sabha seats, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan told PTI.
Till 11 am, Damoh recorded a voter turnout of 26.84 percent, Hoshangabad 32.40, Khajuraho 28.14, Rewa 24.46, Satna 30.32 and Tikamgarh 26.96, the official said.
"Mayawati will decide post-poll alliance after the results.
— BSP leader Akash Anand
“The second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections is underway in the country. As per the information we are receiving, people are celebrating the festival of democracy with excitement. I want to thank all those who are casting their vote today. There's a different kind of excitement that we witness in West Bengal. I want to appeal to everyone to cast their vote to strengthen democracy. I am sure parties like TMC and Congress, which were hit hard during the first phase of the election, will get destroyed in the second phase of the election.”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Malda, West Bengal.
“What has happened in the last 10 years? This is the time to think and vote.”
— Karnataka Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy after casting his vote in Bengaluru
Kolar DC Akram Pasha is trying to convince people to revoke their decision to boycott elections in KB Hosahalli village over the lack of basic amenities.
“The villagers had announced a month ago that they would boycott the elections. We held a series of meetings to convince them to revoke their decision,” Pasha told South First.
“Even after peace meetings, the villagers are staying away from the polling. Only eight to nine votes have been polled till 11 am. I have also sent the assistant commissioner to convince them. Hope they will revoke their decision,” he added.
Approximate voter turnout as of 11 am: 22.34%
MY VOTE TOO COUNT: Nanjundaswamy, a 103-year-old colon cancer survivor, after casting his vote in Bengaluru.
Constituency-wise turnout:
Udupi Chikmagalur: 29.03
Hassan: 22.03
Dakshina Kannada: 30.98
Chitradurga: 21.75
Tumkur: 23.32
Mandya: 21.24
Mysore: 25.09
Chamarajanagar: 22.81
Bangalore Rural: 20.35
Bangalore North: 19.78
Bangalore Central: 19.21
Bangalore South: 19.81
Chikkballapur: 21.92
Kolar: 20.76
Approximate voter turnout in the state rose to 26.26% (at 11.15 am)
Constituency wise: (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram - 25.66
Attingal - 27.81
Kollam - 25.94
Pathanamthitta - 26.67
Mavelikkara - 26.76
Alappuzha - 27.64
Kottayam - 26.41
Idukki - 26.12
Ernakulam - 25.92
Chalakudy - 27.34
Thrissur - 26.41
Palakkad - 27.60
Alathur - 26.19
Ponnani - 23.22
Malappuram - 24.78
Kozhikode - 25.62
Wayanad - 26.81
Vadakara - 25.08
Kannur - 27.26
Kasaragod - 26.33
Green polling booth at Kozhikode (booth number 40 of Beypore Assembly Constituency)
The officials here had handed over vegetable seedlings packets to first 100 voters
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on… pic.twitter.com/D5PgM35OLd
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Prominent persons, including senior politicians and candidates contesting in the Lok Sabha polls, turned up during the initial hours of polling in Kerala for the general election.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan, BJP state president K Surendran, saffron party candidates Suresh Gopi and Anil Antony as well as Congress' KC Venugopal and Shafi Parambil were seen casting their votes early in the morning.
Besides them, Congress stalwart AK Antony, KPCC president K Sudhakaran, LDF convener EP Jayarajan and CPI(M)'s TM Thomas Isaac also came in the morning to exercise their right to vote.
UDF's Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Constituency candidate @ShashiTharoor waiting for his turn at a polling booth #LokSabhaElections2024
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on #Karnataka and #Kerala on… pic.twitter.com/UDuHXZEXQm
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Approximate voter turnout in the state crosses 20%
Turnout till 11 am: 24%
Constituency wise: (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram - 23.75
Attingal - 26.03
Kollam - 23.82
Pathanamthitta - 24.39
Mavelikkara - 24.56
Alappuzha - 25.28
Kottayam - 24.25
Idukki - 24.13
Ernakulam - 23.90
Chalakudy - 24.93
Thrissur - 24.12
Palakkad - 25.20
Alathur - 23.75
Ponnani - 20.97
Malappuram - 22.44
Kozhikode - 23.13
Wayanad - 24.64
Vadakara - 22.66
Kannur - 24.68
Kasaragod - 23.74
"It is going good so far. It is 100% better than the first phase because our party workers are working hard and even I appealed to the people personally to come out and vote and people are coming out in large numbers to vote. I am very sure everything is going to be good... We were anyway going good, but with the gathbandhan we are going to perform twice as well..."
— Hemamalini, BJP candidate from Mathura
"This election is about far greater than my own future. It is about India's future. It is about changing the government in Delhi. We are here to restore democracy, restore faith in diversity and restore India's pluralism...The Left also claims they are also critical of BJP but they've never said a world against BJP."
— Shashi Tharoor, Congress candidate from Thiruvananthapuram.
"We are sure of a historic mandate in Kerala, so this is not an election to choose a few MPs in Kerala. This is a national election...This is the first time in India's history where a two-time sitting PM is going for a third election with zero anti-incumbency, there is a pro-Modi wave across India...There is a lot of excitement for PM's vision for India. Kerala is no exception. So, we are sure that we will win more than 370 seats for our party and more than 400 seats for our coalition. Rest assured, a large number of them will be from Kerala...This time we will create history...There is a large anti-incumbency wave against the Left Government."
— Anil Antony, BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta
"Second phase of polling is going on in Amravati. I did the recital of Hanuman Chalisa, took the blessings of elder members of my family...My Amravati people know that this polling is for India and they will give their blessings to a small worker like me 100%...," says BJP candidate from Amravati Navnit Ravi Rana.
In Ghaziabad, Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) says, "... BJP is going to win all over the country, where is the doubt. PM Narendra Modi has given a target of 400 paar and we will achieve that target. I am not contesting this time, and there's a difference between not fielded and not contesting...," says Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd).
"Congress may not win more than 30 seats" says BJP candidate from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya.
"My appeal to the people is to go and vote in large numbers. Contribute to the democratic process and vote because your vote is important in bringing a strong government... All the misunderstandings have been sorted, there is no doubt among the people. Marathas have got a 10% reservation...," BJP leader Ashok Chavan after casting his vote in Nanded, Maharashtra.
"Karnataka is going to poll; the state is giving very big results and people are very happy as whatever we said in the last elections we have delivered...Women are cutting across the party line, all of them are favouring us and I thank all of them...For the first-time voters- the youth of this country, I have to say that Congress has put up a beautiful manifesto...You have to make a change as it is needed, you have given 10 years and now let's go for a change...," Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
Six persons were injured after a vehicle went out of control and crashed into the LDF booth committee office in Erattupetta Vattakayam. Four people were admitted to a private hospital in Erattupetta and two to Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
An average voter turnout of over 11 percent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
Leader of the Opposition in Kerala VD Satheesan alleged that LDF convener EP Jayarayan had met BJP leader Prakash Javedkar, who is in charge of Kerala, upon instruction from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
"Javedkar is not a Union minister. He is in charge of Kerala. The CM said he had met him. My question is, why should the CM meet him? Why should Javedkar meet Jayarajan at his house? All these point to one fact - there is an unholy nexus between BJP's central leadership and CPI(M) leaders of the state. They had only one aim- to destroy Congress."
"CM knows that LDF will lose this election. He wanted a scapegoat and got Jayarajan," said him.
Leader of the Opposition @vdsatheesan alleged that LDF convener EP Jayarayan had met @BJP4India leader Prakash Javedkar, who is in charge of #Kerala, upon instruction from Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan.
"Javedkar is not a union minister. He is in charge of Kerala. The CM… pic.twitter.com/vnlpWU9V7x
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
A voter turnout of 15.49 percent was recorded till 9 am in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency amid tight security, officials said.
Voting was underway at 857 polling stations, spanning 13 Assembly segments in eight districts.
About 13.82 percent of voters cast their ballots till 9 am in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.
Approximate voter turnout in Kerala at 10.15 am - 19.06%
Constituency wise: (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram- 18.68
Attingal- 20.55
Kollam- 18.80
Pathanamthitta-19.42
Mavelikkara- 19.63
Alappuzha- 20.07
Kottayam- 19.17
Idukki- 18.72
Ernakulam- 18.93
Chalakudy- 19.79
Thrissur- 19.31
Palakkad- 20.05
Alathur- 18.96
Ponnani- 16.68
Malappuram- 17.90
Kozhikode- 18.55
Wayanad-19.71
Vadakara- 18.00
Kannur- 19.71
Kasaragod- 18.79
"This is a critical election. A storm has brewed against the BJP and CPI(M). It will dethrone them. UDF will win in all 20 seats. CPM and BJP will lose all seats," senior Congress leader AK Antony after casting vote.
Antony's son Anil K Antony is the BJP candidate in Kerala's Pathanamthitta constituency.
Senior @INCIndia leader AK Antony after casting a vote, "This is a critical election. A storm has brewed against the BJP and CPI(M). It will dethron them. UDF will win in all 20 seats. CPM and BJP will lose all seats."
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins,… pic.twitter.com/aByFIKxtxs
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Nearly 12 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours of polling across 13 Lok Sabha seats and one Assembly constituency in Rajasthan.
The voting percentage in the first two hours in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls is slightly above that of the first phase.
The polling percentage in 12 Lok Sabha seats, which went to polls on April 19, by this time was 10.67 percent.
Voting was underway in Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota-Bundi, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, along with the Bagidora Assembly constituency where a bypoll is underway.
Voting for three Lok Sabha constituencies, having Maoist presence, in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections began on Friday, with 15.42 percent of the electorate exercising their franchise in the first two hours.
“Polling in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies started at 7 am. Till 9 am, 15.42 percent polling has been registered,” a poll official said.
“Polling is underway smoothly and peacefully,” he added.
Approximate voter turnout in the state at 10: 16 %
Constituency wise: (in percentage)
Thiruvananthapuram- 16
Attingal- 17.49
Kollam- 15.97
Pathanamthitta-16.43
Mavelikkara- 16.42
Alappuzha- 16.81
Kottayam- 16.48
Idukki- 15.83
Ernakulam- 16.25
Chalakudy- 16.72
Thrissur- 16.15
Palakkad- 16.62
Alathur- 15.93
Ponnani- 13.84
Malappuram- 14.98
Kozhikode- 15.45
Wayanad-16.50
Vadakara- 14.72
Kannur- 16.29
Kasaragod- 15.42
Approximate voter turnout in the #Kerala at 10.05 am - 16 %
Constituency wise : (in percentage)
Ponnani- 13.84
Malappuram- 14.98
Kozhikode- 15.45
Wayanad-16.50
Vadakara- 14.72
Kannur- 16.29
Kasaragod- 15.4As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the… pic.twitter.com/Z3P53QTM8m
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
UDF's Pathanamthitta candidate Anto Antony alleged that BJP's symbol is comparatively large in the EVMs compared with other parties.
"Enlarging the size of the symbol will not yield any good for the BJP in Kerala," he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to come out and vote to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship.
"'We, the people of India' - this soul of the Constitution of India, should reverberate in your hearts and minds, before you push the voting button. Do not forget that this is not an ordinary election. It is an election to protect Democracy from the clutches of dictatorship," he said in his message on X.
"To all my dear citizens, from 89 Constituencies in 13 States and UTs, do not get swayed by diversionary tactics and lies.
"Always make your vote count. For it may change the lives of 140 crore Indians by bringing the paradigm of Yuva Nyay, Nariman Nyay, Kishan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay," Kharge said.
A woman was undergoing treatment at the Taluk Hospital in Pathanamthitta district's Adoor, after a street dog had bitten her at the polling centre in Manakkala Polytechnic.
LDF convener EP Jayarajan should have been more cautious, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded to the allegation that the former had met Prakash Javadekar before the elections.
BJP's Sobha Surendran had said that Jayarajan mulled over shifting to the saffron party, but did not do so fearing retaliation by the CPI(M).
"EP should have been more cautious. He had previous experiences (referring to getting in trouble with the connections he had)," Vijayan said.
On the day of polling, @CMOKerala @pinarayivijayan on allegation that LDF convenor EP Jayarajan tried to join @BJP4India : "EP should have been more cautious. He had pervious experiences (referring to getting in trouble with the connections he had)."
CPI(M) state secretary MV… pic.twitter.com/dwTNT7z2cI
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
An FIR was registered against the BJP's Chikkaballapura candidate K Sudhakar on the election eve after ₹4.8 crore in cash was seized from the constituency, the Karnataka CEO said on Friday.
A man collapsed and died after voting at Ottappalam in Palakkad. The deceased has been identified as 68-years-old Chandran.
Karnataka has reported a voter turnout of 9.21 percent till 9 am, according to the Election Commission of India.
Constituency-wise polling percentage during the first two hours is a follows:
Chikmagalur: 12.82
Hassan: 8.23
Dakshina Kannada: 14.33
Chitradurga: 7.73
Tumkur: 9.57
Mandya: 7.70
Mysore: 11.01
Chamarajanagar: 7.70
Bangalore Rural: 8.39
Bangalore North: 8.64
Bangalore Central: 8.14
Bangalore South: 9.08
Chikkballapur: 8.74
Kolar: 8.30
Retired Air Marshal PV Iyer, a 94-year-old senior citizen born in 1929, cast his vote in #Bengaluru today.
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on #Karnataka and #Kerala on @Thesouthfirst.
Follow for updates… pic.twitter.com/WSXclt9SXb
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
"Kerala shows up strong," says Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul.
"As polling begins across Kerala, enthusiastic voters are already lining up early at polling stations, eager to make their voices heard," he said on X.
Reasi District Election Officer Vishesh Paul Mahajan on Friday joined early voters to exercise his democratic right as polling began in Jammu Lok Sabha constituency in the second phase.
The DEO said queues have started forming outside polling stations and he is hopeful of a good voter turnout in the district.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, software industry icon NR Narayana Murthy, his wife and Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty, former cricketer Rahul Dravid and actor Prakash Raj were among the early voters as polling began in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka on Friday.
Many booths reported brisk voting in the first hour of polling as people sought to "beat the heat".
Constituency-wise voting percentage in Kerala, one hour after the commencement of polling.
1. Thiruvananthapuram: 2.97
2. Attingal: 2.18
3. Kollam: 1.69
4. Pathanamthitta: 3.05
5. Mavelikkara: 2.77
6. Alappuzha: 1.70
7. Kottayam: 3.25
8. Idukki: 2.22
9. Ernakulam: 2.11
10. Chalakkudy: 1.85
11. Thrissur: 2.60
12. Palakkad: 2.72
13. Alathur: 1.66
14. Ponnani: 2.03
15. Malappuram: 2.35
16. Kozhikode: 2.32
17. Wayanad: 2.83
18. Vadakara: 2.08
19. Kannur: 1.45
20. Kasaragod: 1.32
Approximate voter turnout in the #Kerala after an hour of polling began - 3.78 %
Constituency wise : (in percentage)
Palakkad- 2.72
Alathur- 1.66
Ponnani- 2.03
Malappuram- 2.35
Kozhikode- 2.32
Wayanad-2.83
Vatakara- 2.08Kannur- 1.45
Kasaragod- 1.32As voting for phase two of… pic.twitter.com/Aq0YkVuDCj
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
(Source: CEO Kerala on X)
Kerala reported 3.78 percent voter turnout after the first hour of voting, which commenced at 7 am on Friday, the Chief Electoral Officer said at 8.05 am.
People queued up since early morning outside the over 25,000 polling booths in the state to avoid the hot weather.
EVM breakdowns were reported in various booths across the state, delaying the election process in those places. The machines were later replaced.
Actor Prakash Raj urges all to vote after exercising his franchise in Bengaluru.
I have Voted .. please go and Vote #justasking #SaveDemocracySaveIndia pic.twitter.com/shg7jDSVpU
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) April 26, 2024
BJP candidate in Thrissur Suresh Gopi and UDF's Vadakara candidate Shafi Parambil cast their votes.
UDF's Vadakara Lok Sabha Constituency candidate @shafi_parambil_ after casting his vote at Palakkad
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on #Karnataka and #Kerala on @TheSouthfirst.
Follow for updates as they… pic.twitter.com/Vb0qUNBRE9
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Amid tight security arrangements, voting began in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu constituency on Friday.
More than 17.81 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 22 candidates.
Voting is underway in Karnataka.
A total of 247 candidates — 226 men and 21 women — are in the fray.
The first phase in the state covers most of the southern and coastal districts, where more than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations.
People have started to flock into the polling stations to exercise their franchise early morning in Chamarajapete of the #Bengaluru Central constituency.
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the latest updates, with a special focus on #Karnataka… pic.twitter.com/J0VLdicIUB
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
With the terror threat on the wane and changing dynamics in the Kashmir region, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K Pole is hopeful of a significant surge in voter participation during the Lok Sabha elections in the Valley.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people on Friday, 26 April, to cast their votes in record numbers in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls and said a high voter turnout strengthens democracy.
Asserting that their vote is their voice, Modi especially told the young voters and women voters to turn up at the polling booths in great numbers.
"Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers," he said.
Of the 15.88 crore voters, 8.08 are men, 7.8 crore women, and 5,929 are third gender. First-timers account for 34.8 lakh voters in the second phase.
As many as 3.28 crore voters are aged between 20 and 29 years, 14.78 lakh are above 85, 42,226 have crossed 100, and 14.7 are people with disabilities.
Of the 1,202 candidates, 1,098 are men, 102 women, and two others.
15.88 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise across 1.67 lakh polling stations.
Kerala has the highest number of registered NRI voters (74.9%), followed by Andhra Pradesh (64%), and Tamil Nadu and Telangana with 2.9% each.
Good Morning and welcome back to South First's live coverage of the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls.
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Voters in 89 Parliament constituencies spread across 13 states and Union Territories were expected to cast their votes today, Friday, 26 April.
However, polling in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, has been postponed to 7 May, following the death of the BSP candidate.
In 2019, the NDA won 65 of these seats where the polling is being held on Friday. The BJP had won 53, its allies 12, and the constituents of the INDIA bloc, 23.
The second phase of the polling is being held amidst a furious row over inheritance tax between the Congress and BJP.
#LokSabhaElections2024 #Kerala
Queues formed in front of many polling booths as voting will begin at 7 a.m.
A scene from a polling booth at Pathanamthitta (Chittar Grama Panchayat, 4th ward, Estate LPS)
As voting for phase two of #LokSabhaElections2024 begins, follow the… pic.twitter.com/aLUn76AGJZ
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 26, 2024
Of the 1,210 candidates in the fray, 74 are from the BSP. The BJP and Congress have 69 and 68 candidates, respectively, seeking the mandate.
An ECI control room in Kannur, Kerala. (X)
Rahul Gandhi, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Shashi Tharoor, V Muraleedharan, KC Venugopal, Arun Govil (who portrayed Lord Ram in the Ramayan TV series), Hema Malini, Om Birla, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Bhupesh Baghel, and Sukanta Majumdar are some of the heavyweights contesting in the second phase.
The fate of candidates in 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajashthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura will be sealed on Friday.
Results will be declared on 4 June.
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