4th phase witnesses over 67% voter turnout

POLLING FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS HAS CROSSED HALFWAY MARK AS IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN 23 STATES/UTS AND 379 LS CONSTITUENCIES OUT OF 543

The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which took place on Monday, saw a voter participation rate of over 67 per cent. These elections encompassed 96 constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories.

West Bengal, where polling was held in eight constituencies, again recorded an impressive turnout at 78.44 per cent, the highest among states/UTs in this phase, closely followed by Andhra Pradesh (25 seats) at 78.25 per cent and Odisha (four seats) at 73.97 per cent.

The Srinagar constituency in Jammu and Kashmir saw a voter turnout of 37.98 per cent, marking the first Lok Sabha election in the Valley since the abolition of Article 370. The Election Commission (EC) noted that this was the “highest turnout in decades”.

As per the EC’s voter turnout app, the overall voting in this phase stood at 67.70 per cent. However, this figure was deemed “approximate” as data from polling stations was still being compiled.

Even after the official end of polling at 6 pm, a significant number of voters remained in line at polling stations, as per an 8 pm statement from the Election Commission.

Among other states, Bihar (five seats) recorded 57.06 per cent polling, Jharkhand (four seats) 65.31 per cent, Maharashtra (11 seats) 59.64 percent, Telangana (17 seats) 64.87 per cent and Uttar Pradesh (13) 58.05 per cent.

A provisional voter turnout of 71.72 per cent was recorded in Madhya Pradesh (eight seats), according to election officials in Bhopal.