LS polls highlights: 3rd phase sees about 61.43% voter turnout; highest in Assam, lowest in Maha, UP

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE updates: Home Minister Amit Shah and Former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan are in the fray in 3rd phase. The results of the elections will be declared on June 4

8:52 PM

3rd phase polling sees about 62 per cent voter turnout; highest in Assam, lowest in Maharashtra, UP

As per the Election Commission, approximately 61.43 per cent voters have cast their votes in the third phase with highest in Assam (75.09 per cent) and lowest in Maharashtra (57.34 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (57.34 per cent). In this phase, more than 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. A total of 17.24 crore voters are eligible to cast their franchise in this phase at 1.85 lakh polling stations.

7:53 PM

BJP govt in Haryana loses majority as 3 independent MLAs support Congress

 In a setback to the ruling BJP in Haryana amid the Lok Sabha elections, three Independent MLAs today announced that they have withdrawn their support to the Nayab Singh Saini-led government in the state. The three MLAs - Sombir Sangwan, Randhir Gollen and Dharampal Gonder - also said that they have decided to extend support to the Congress during the elections. They made the announcement at a press conference held in Rohtak in presence of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.

6:11 PM

Model Code of Conduct turned into ‘Modi code of conduct' under BJP rule: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Election Commission has turned a blind eye to the allegations against BJP leaders that they indulge in hate speeches during campaigns, converting the Model Code of Conduct to "Modi code of conduct".

5:01 PM

Amethi entrusted to me as 'amanat' of Rahul, Priyanka: Congress' KL Sharma

Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma today termed Amethi as the legacy of Rahui Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that he will return to them whenever asked. At an election meeting at Musafirkhana, Sharma said, "Amethi is the 'amanat' of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi that is with me as their 'dharohar'. Whenever the family asks me, I will return it."

 

4:59 PM

Chandrababu Naidu using BJP to stall welfare schemes, alleges Jagan Mohan Reddy

YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu along with BJP state president D Purandeswari was hindering the distribution of welfare schemes in Andhra Pradesh. "They are putting pressure on the Election Commission to stall direct benefit transfer (DBT) financial assistance on ongoing welfare schemes of the state like pensions and input subsidy, among others," he said at a public meeting.

4:44 PM

Nomination process for 7th phase of Lok Sabha polls begins in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh

The nomination process for Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha constituencies  and Himachal Pradesh's four seats as well as six assembly segments where bypolls are to be held on June 1 started today. The nomination process will continue till May 14, barring May 11 and 12 which are public holidays. The scrutiny of papers will take place on May 15 and the last date for the withdrawal of nominations is May 17, according to an official release.

4:41 PM

Lok Sabha polls update: Man killed over personal enmity outside polling booth in Dharashiv

A 27-year-old man was killed and his friend injured in a knife attack outside a polling booth in Maharashtra's Dharashiv district.The incident occurred outside the polling booth in Patsangvi village of Bhoom tehsil around 11.30 am  where polling is underway in the third phase of the general election on Tuesday, police said.

The attack was due to personal enmity and had nothing to do with the elections, an official said.

4:26 PM

NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule files complaint after video shows NCP MLA threatening her party worker

Baramati Lok Sabha candidate Supriya Sule today filed a complaint with the state Election Commission via email after a video, allegedly showing Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Dattatraya Bharne  threatening a party worker, went viral on social media, said party lawmaker Rohit Pawar. Rohit Pawar stated: “We have lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission against the (Indapur) NCP MLA (Bharne) for abusing and threatening our party worker in Indapur. This is a violation of the model code of conduct.”

4:23 PM

June 4 is 'expiry date' of INDIA bloc: PM Modi at Ahmednagar rally

 At an election rally in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, PM Modi said that polling in third phase has made it clear that June 4 is “expiry date” of INDIA bloc.

3:57 PM

News update: EC directs deferment of Telangana govt scheme Rythu Bharosa, says poll code violated

3:54 PM

Modi and BJP consider only themselves as Hindus, says West Bengal CM Mamata

PM Modi and BJP consider only themselves as Hindus, they don't think about other communities: Mamata Banerjee at Purulia rally. 

3:46 PM

'Siddaramaiah Investigation Team': JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy sees plot in sex abuse claims against Prajwal

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has claimed that 25,000 pen drives with videos of women being sexually abused allegedly by his nephew, Lok Sabha election candidate Prajwal Revanna, were distributed before polls, and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar of a conspiracy.

3:13 PM

Lok Sabha polls: 36.69 % turnout recorded in five Bihar Lok Sabha seats till 1 pm

Around 36.69 per cent of over 98 lakh voters exercised their franchise in five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar till 1 pm on Tuesday, an election official said.

Voting in 9,848 polling stations in Araria, Jhanjharpur, Supaul, Madhepura and Khagaria seats, all currently held by the NDA, began at 7 am amid tight security and will continue till 6 pm, he said. Supaul recorded the highest turnout of 38.58 per cent.

3:10 PM

PM Modi made 22 billionaires in 10 years, INDIA bloc will make crores of people 'lakhpati': Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he wanted to hand over 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' belonging to tribals to industrialists.

2:39 PM

31.55% turnout recorded till 1 pm in Maharashtra; Pawars among early voters

A voter turnout of 31.55 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in 11 of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, where polling is underway in the third phase of the general elections on Tuesday, election authorities said. Latur recorded 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.