Lok Sabha poll highlights: 64% turnout in phase 4; violence in WB, Odisha

Voting for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 phase 4 to decide the fate of 961 candidates is underway. 38.63% voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm. Catch live updates on General elections 2019

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4: Incidents of violence in West Bengal and Odisha that left a Congress worker dead and EVM glitches were reported in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls on Monday which saw 64 per cent turnout in 72 seats across nine states.

In the heartland states, where the BJP had won 30 out of 32 seats in 2014, 67.73 per cent turnout was recorded in Rajasthan (13 seats), 58.56 per cent in Uttar Pradesh (13 seats) and 67.09 per cent in Madhya Pradesh (6 seats), according to the Election Commission.'

West Bengal recorded a high turnout at 76.66 in the eight seats though clashes broke out between supporters of TMC and BJP in Nanoor, Rampurhat, Nalhati and Suri areas of Birbhum seat, leaving several people injured.

A Congress worker was stabbed to death in Balikuda-Erasama are of Jagatsinghpur seat while he was returning from a polling booth. The victim, Lachman Behera, had recently quit the BJD to join the Congress, the official said.

Clashes between supporters of the ruling BJD and the BJP were reported from Jajpur Kendrapara and Balasore Lok Sabha seats amid allegations poll rigging.

Technical glitches in EVMs delayed polling in 60 booths, but it resumed after the snags were rectified.

During a mock-poll in Madhya Pradesh, electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced at 207 polling booths as some glitches were found. EVMs were also replaced at 106 polling booths after the voting began, according to officials.

Voting was also held for 41 Assembly seats in Odisha and Chhindwara Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, where Chief Minister Kamal Nath is contesting.

Lok Sabha Elections phase 4:

The electorate will decide the political fortunes of 961 candidates in this phase.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha elections 2019: How to vote, check voter list and elections dates

Some of the key constituencies that went to polls on Monday are:

Begusarai (Bihar), Darbhanga (Bihar), Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh), Maval (Maharashtra), Mumbai North Central (Maharashtra), Mumbai North (Maharashtra), Kendrapara (Odisha), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Barmer (Rajasthan), Jhalawar-Baran (Rajasthan), Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), Kanpur city (Uttar Pradesh), Bahrampur (West Bengal), Asansol (West Bengal)

Lok Sabha Election results will be announced on May 23.

7:49 PM

Sunny Deol declares assets worth Rs 87.18 crore

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, known for his thrillers like Gadar, Ghayal and Border and fighting as a BJP candidate for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, has declared total assets, including that of his wife, as Rs 87.18 crore.

 

Deol, whose real name is Ajay Singh Deol, declared the assets in his affidavit to the Election Commission, filed Monday along with his nomination papers.

 

His affidavit on assets and liabilities showed his income to be Rs 63.82 lakh in 2017-18, Rs 96.29 lakh in 2016-17 and Rs 2.25 crore in 2015-16.

 

6:50 PM

Mamata angry with central force for firing during polling

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the central forces for allegedly firing "inside" a polling booth in Birbhum district and accused the BJP of misusing the forces in the elections.

 

Stating that the law and order is a state subject, she said it is not the job of the central forces to enter polling booths and they should keep vigil outside.

6:39 PM

57.13 per cent turnout recorded till 4pm in Jharkhand

An estimated 57.13 per cent of 45.26 lakh electorate cast their votes as polling officially ended at 4pm on Monday in three Lok Sabha constituencies of Jharkhand in the first phase of the staggered elections in the state, an official said.

 

The turnout is likely to go up as voters who have entered the premises of the polling stations before 4 pm will be allowed to exercise their franchise, he said.

6:14 PM

6:11 PM

52.07 pc voter turnout till 5 pm in Maharashtra

An average 52.07 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in 17 seats in Maharashtra in the fourth and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state Monday, election officials said.

 

5:02 PM

Central forces have created a "reign of terror" in West Bengal: TMC tells EC

TMC to EC New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress Monday approached the Election Commission alleging that the central forces deployed in West Bengal have created a "reign of terror" in the minds of voters and acted in a manner which is not conducive to free and fair elections.

 

TMC leaders Shanta Chhetri and Chandan Mitra submitted two letters to the EC - one alleging illegal action taken by the forces as well as violation of model code of conduct by BJP candidates and the second related to firing by Central Forces personnel inside polling booths in Dubraipur and Birbhum Parliamentary constituency. 

Central forces have been deployed in almost all the booths in West Bengal, but there has been stray incidents of violence across the state during the first three phases.

 

Violence was reported on Monday as well in Asansol and Birbhum.

4:51 PM

44.26% of votes cast by 3 pm in 5 Bihar LS seats

A total 44.26 per cent of 87.74 lakh electorate cast their votes till 3 pm in five Lok Sabha constituencies in the fourth phase of polling in Bihar on Monday, EC official said.

 

They cast their votes in 8834 polling stations to decide the fate of 66 candidates, three of them women.

 

Peaceful polling is on in five Lok Sabha constituencies of Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger, where a total 16239 poll personnel have been deployed for conducting election, the official said.

4:37 PM

Mission 'mahamilavat' wants 'khichdi' govt at Centre: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the 'mission mahamilavat' of the opposition is keen to form a "khichdi" government at the Centre, the strings of which will remain in the hands of the Congress.

 

Addressing a poll rally in Jamua under Koderma Lok Sabha constituency in support of BJP candidate Annapurna Devi, Modi alleged that the grand alliance of opposition parties does not at any cost want a government with absolute majority.

4:31 PM

Estimated voter turnout till 3 pm is 49.53%

Estimated voter turnout till 3 pm for the 4th phase of Lok Sabha election 2019 is 49.53%. Voting is underway in 72 constituencies, across 9 states.

4:25 PM

SP fields ex-BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav against Modi

The Samajwadi Party on Monday nominated former BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was dismissed after complaining about the quality of food, as its candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

 

The SP, which is in an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, had earlier declared Shalini Yadav as its candidate from Varanasi, while the Congress has renominated Ajai Rai.

4:20 PM

4:00 PM

Voting peaceful, but just 9% cast ballot in Kulgam dist till 3pm Srinagar

With just an hour left for polls to close, less than nine percent of 3.45 lakh electorate Monday exercised their franchise in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir - part of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency - amidst stringent security arrangements and isolated incidents of stone-pelting near polling stations, officials said.

 

The voting in the second leg of three-phased schedule for the Lok Sabha seat would decide the fate of 18 candidates, including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

3:45 PM

49% voting recorded in Madhya Pradesh till 3 pm

An average 49.02 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm across six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh Monday, an official said.

 

The polling began at 7 am. "An average 49.02 per cent turnout was recorded till 3 pm," an election official said.

 

The voting figures till 3 pm were as follows: 

 

Sidhi- 34.95 per cent, Shahdol-51.91 per cent, Jabalpur-48.71 per cent, Mandla-51.34 per cent, Balaghat-54.48 per cent and Chhindwara- 54.04 per cent.

3:37 PM

HC refuses injunction on EC's surveillance order on TMC leader

The Calcutta High Court Monday refused to pass any injunction on the Election Commission's decision to keep TMC's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mandal under surveillance.

 

The poll body had on Sunday ordered that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman, who has often invited controversies with his remarks against opposition parties, be kept under scanner from 6 pm of April 28 to 7 am of April 30.

3:33 PM

SP alleges VVPAT shows 'lotus' when 'cycle' button pressed; wants DGP removed

Opposition Samajwadi Party Monday urged the Election Commission to remove Uttar Pardesh's police chief OP Singh from the post alleging he was "favouring" the ruling BJP and affecting elections.

 

The party also alleged that in at at least two polling booths the Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machine showed the voting for the BJP when the ballot was cast for the SP.