The second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is set to take place on April 26th. This phase will see voters from 89 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories exercise their democratic rights.
Notable regions include all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Bihar and Assam, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Manipur, which is going for polls in the second phase.
However, the Betul constituency in Madhya Pradesh will not participate due to the unfortunate passing of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.
On April 19th, the first phase saw 102 Lok Sabha constituencies casting their votes. With such a vast array of regions participating, the second phase underscores the diversity and scale of India’s electoral process. The Election Commission has diligently ensured the smooth conduct of these elections, fostering a fair and transparent democratic environment.
Results for all seats are eagerly awaited and will be declared on June 4th. As the world’s largest democracy, India showcases the vibrancy of its political landscape through these elections.
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Phase 2 Voter Turnout 5 PM: Tripura Records Highest With Over 76%
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EC Files Case Against BJP's Tejasvi Surya For Religious Vote Solicitation
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Phase 2: Over 50% Turnout By 3 PM
As of 3 pm, voter turnout reached 50.3% across 13 states and union territories. Manipur, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura witnessed turnout exceeding 53%, while Maharashtra had the lowest at over 31%. By 1 pm in 2019, these 88 seats recorded a 40% turnout.
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Top 3 Richest Candidates Of The Second Phase
The top two wealthiest candidates hail from the Congress party in Karnataka. Venkataramane Gowda, contesting from Mandya, is the richest candidate, boasting assets worth Rs 622 crore, including Rs 410 crore in immovable assets.
Meanwhile, DK Suresh, younger brother of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, stands at Rs 593 crore in assets and is seeking re-election from Bangalore Rural. Notably, Suresh also has liabilities amounting to Rs 150 crore, which is the highest among his peers. Mathura BJP candidate and film star Hema Malini also possesses assets totalling Rs 278 crore.
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Major States And Constituencies Participating In Phase 2
Bihar: In Bihar, the constituencies of Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, and Banka will witness electoral battles. The Congress and RJD alliance takes on the BJP, with notable contests like Purnia, where Congress leader Pappu Yadav contests against RJD’s Beema Bharti.
Chhattisgarh: Voting will be held for Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, and Kanker in Chhattisgarh. All eyes are on Rajnandgaon, where former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress faces Santosh Pandey of the BJP, a seat held by the saffron party since 2009.
Karnataka: The state’s 14 Lok Sabha seats are up for grabs, with intense contests expected in constituencies like Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Hassan, Mandya, and Mysore. Notable candidates include BJP’s Tejsvi Surya, former CM HD Kumaraswamy, DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh, and royal scion Yaduveer Wadiyar.
Kerala: All 20 seats in Kerala will see polling in Phase 2, with a focus on Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi will contest against CPI’s Annie Raja and BJP’s state president K Surendran. Similarly, Thiruvananthapuram features a battle between Shashi Tharoor and BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar, while actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi will contest from Thrissur.
West Bengal: Voting will be held in three seats – Darjeeling, Balurghat, and Raiganj. Balurghat sees BJP’s state chief Sukanta Majumdar against TMC’s Biplab Mitra, while Darjeeling is expected to witness a contest between Raju Bista and TMC’s Gopal Lama.
Rajasthan: Polling will take place for 12 constituencies in Rajasthan, with notable candidates like Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur and Vaibhav Gehlot, son of Ashok Gehlot, in Jalore. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla contests from Kota.
Maharashtra: Voting will be held for several constituencies, including Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal-Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, and Parbhani. Notable contests include Amravati, where Navneet Rana contests as BJP candidate, and Nanded, where the BJP eyes victory after inducting former Congress CM Ashok Chavan.
Uttar Pradesh: Eight seats in Uttar Pradesh – Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr – will see polling. Renowned personalities like Ramayana’s Ram Arun Govil in Meerut and actor Hema Malini in Mathura are in the fray.
Assam: Five seats in Assam – Karimganj, Silchar, Mangaldoi, Nawgong, and Kaliabor – are set for polling in the second phase.
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About 40% Voter Turnout Across 13 States, UTs By 1 Pm
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In Karnataka, 91-Year-Old Woman Dies After Voting
A 91-year-old woman, Puttamma, died shortly after voting in Hunsur, Karnataka, which falls under the Mysore Lok Sabha constituency. Despite her age, she exercised her right to vote.
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EC Revoked BJP Candidate Debashis Dhar's Birbhum Candidature
The Election Commission cancelled the candidacy of former IPS officer Debashis Dhar, BJP’s candidate in Birbhum, as the state government failed to issue him a No Dues Certificate. Dhar alleged a political motive behind the cancellation and plans to challenge it in court. Devtanu Bhattacharya is now the BJP’s official candidate for Birbhum.
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BJP Bengal Chief Accuses TMC Of Engaging In Violence
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Voter Turnout At 11 Am Saw Highest Voters In Tripura, Lowest In Maharashtra
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