Phase 4 Lok Sabha Polls: 64% Voter Turnout in 72 Constituencies
72 constituencies across nine states went to polls in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Seventy-two constituencies across nine states recorded a voting turnout of 64 percent till 7 pm on Monday, 29 April, as the country voted in the fourth phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
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.
For all updates on polling in the six seats in Mumbai, click here.
- TMC workers and security forces clashed in WB’s Asansol
- Multiple incidents of EVM glitch were reported from various areas
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Key Fights to Watch Out For
Bihar
One of the most interesting battles of phase four will take place in Bihar’s Begusarai, where Union minister Giriraj Singh is pitted against former JNUSU president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar, and RJD’s Tanweer Hassan in a three-way contest.
Madhya Pradesh
Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s son, Nakul Nath, will be contesting from Chhindwara, considered the Congress’ stronghold.
Maharashtra
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew Parth Pawar is making his electoral debut from Maval. The constituency has been with Shiv Sena for 10 years.
Odisha
An intense battle will be witnessed in Kendrapara where BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda will lock horns with BJD Rajya Sabha MP and Odia actor Anubhav Mohanty. The Congress has repeated its candidate Dharanidhar Nayak from the seat.
Rajasthan
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son, Vaibhav Gehlot, is making his electoral debut from Jodhpur and is pitted against sitting BJP MP and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Vasundhara Raje's son, Dushyant Singh, is seeking re-election from Jhalawar-Baran. Raje had also won the constituency five times.
Uttar Pradesh
In the state’s Kannauj constituency, Dimple Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, will go up against BJP’s Subrat Pathak.
In Unnao, sitting MP and BJP leader Sakshi Maharaj will face-off against Congress’ Annu Tandon.
West Bengal
In Asansol, the BJP has fielded Babul Supriyo for the second time, while the TMC has fielded Moon Moon Sen.
Jammu and Kashmir
Voting in different phases, the Anantnag constituency will again go to polls in the fourth phase.
Here, former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti and Congress’ Ghulam Ahmad Mir are the contenders. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’s Hasnain Masoodi is also in the fray.
Voting Begins in 72 Seats Across 9 States
72 seats across nine states are polling in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday, 29 April.
Crucial states Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are polling for the first time in this phase.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh Casts Vote
Union Minister and sitting MP from Nawada, Giriraj Singh, cast his vote, on Monday at a polling booth in Barahiya of Lakhisarai district
EVM Glitch in WB's Bolpur
Voting is yet to begin at booth number 286/184 and 286/185 in Bolpur after a glitch in EVM was detected, reported news agency ANI.
Vasundhara Raje Scindia Casts Vote
Former Rajasthan CM and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia casts her vote at a polling booth in Jhalawar, reported news agency ANI.
Voting Halts at Booth in J&K's Hamirpur
Polling has been halted at booth number 111 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Hamirpur, following an EVM malfunction, reported news agency ANI.
Polling Yet to Begin in Etawah Booth
Reports suggest polling had not begun at booth number 418 in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. Incidentally, the booth is a ‘model polling booth’.
PM Modi, Home Minister Tweet Asking to Vote
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tweeted urging people to vote in the fourth phase of voting.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted echoing the prime minister.
Kanhaiya Kumar Arrives to Vote
CPI’s Begusarai Candidate Kanhaiya Kumar has arrived to cast his vote.
“Begusarai ko badnam karne wali takton ko Begusarai mein muh ki khani padegi (Those trying to malign Begusarai, will face severe losses),” he said at the polling station, reported news agency ANI.
Voters Boycott Polling in WB's Jemua
Villagers boycott polls at Asansol’s Jemua polling booth number 222 and 226 due to absence of central forces at the polling station. Polling has been suspended at the polling station as voters are protesting.
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath Votes
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath casts his vote at polling booth number 17 in Shikarpur in Chhindwara, reported news agency ANI.
Voting Yet to Begin in Kannauj
Voting is yet to begin at booth number 189&196 of Chhibramau area in Kannauj after a glitch in EVM was detected, reported news agency ANI.
Voting Underway in Jammu and Kashmir
J&K’s Anantnag, which is polling in three phases, is witnessing its second leg of voting today. Kulgam area of Anantnag is polling today.
Kanhaiya Kumar Casts His Vote
CPI candidate from Begusarai, Kanhaiya Kumar casts his vote at a polling centre in Begusarai.
Babul Supriyo Accuses TMC of Intimidating Voters
Read the full story here.
BJP’s Asansol candidate Babul Supriyo has alleged that Trinamool Congress is intimidating voters.
Earlier, voters at a booth in Asansol had boycotted voting as Central Forces were not present.
“I will myself take the central forces to that polling station. It is very good that people in West Bengal are aware and they want central forces so that they can cast their vote. This is why Mamata Banerjee is scared,” news agency ANI quoted Supriyo as saying.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar Casts Vote
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar cast his vote on Monday morning at Tardeo in Maharashtra.
Voter Turnout for MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
Voter Turnout for WB, Odisha, Bihar
BJP Delegation to Meet EC Over Poll Violence in West Bengal
A BJP delegation, including senior party leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Goel and Anil Baluni, will meet the Election Commission on Monday, 29 April, over the issue of poll-related violence during polling in West Bengal.
Polling Being Conducted For First Time in Jagodih
Polling is being conducted for the first time at booth number 249 in Jagodih area of Palamu constituency in Jharkhand. It is a Naxal-affected area, reported news agency ANI.
BJP Candidate Show Caused in West Bengal
BJP’s Birbhum candidate Doodh Kumar Mandal has been show caused by the EC for using phone inside a polling booth. The presiding officer of the booth has been removed.
23.32% Overall Turnout Till 11 AM
A total of 23.32 percent turnout has been recorded across 72 seats till 11 AM
Poll-Related Skirmish in Various Parts of WB
Congress candidate and sitting MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was gheraoed at a polling booth in Berhampur in West Bengal. Chowdhury had come to the area after he received reports of a party worker getting beaten up by TMC. When Chowdhury went to the booth to enquire, he was heckled and verbally abused by members allegedly of the TMC.
In a separate incident in Nalhati in Birbhum, voters have alleged that TMC workers are not letting them vote. A BJP agent alleged that he was beaten up and thrown out of the polling booth. TMC has denied the charges.
SP Alleges Its Leaders Under House Arrest in Kannauj
The Samajwadi Party has claimed that a number of its leaders have been put under house arrest in Kannauj where party President Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav is contesting the Lok Sabha elections, reported news agency IANS.
SP state President Naresh Uttam sent a letter to the state election commission late on Sunday night, with photographs of police personnel camping outside the houses of senior SP leaders in the district.
Sources said that more than a dozen leaders were put under ‘house arrest', which prevented them from carrying out any form of political activity.
Police Deployed in Nanoor After TMC - BJP Clash
TMC women supporters protest in Nanoor of Birbhum district in West Bengal following a clash between TMC and BJP. Police is currently trying to mediate between two groups.
Bomb Found Outside Polling Booth in WB's Shantipur
Police found a bomb within 200 metres of a polling booth in Nadia district's Shantipur in West Bengal. The bomb was found lying at the doorstep of a local's house.
35.58% Turnout Recorded Till 1 PM
A total of 35.58 percent turnout has been recorded across 72 seats till 1 PM
Three Govt Employees on Poll Duty Die in Separate Incidents
Three government employees, including a woman, engaged in poll duty died in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh, news agency PTI reported.
Sunanda Kotekar, 50, who was deployed at Lodhikheda polling booth in Saunsar area of Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, felt uneasy on Sunday night, state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao said.
Kotekar, who along with other polling personnel of the polling reached the booth early on Sunday, died of cardiac arrest even before she could be provided any medical assistance, he said.
In another incident, an assistant sub-inspector deployed on poll security duty died after suffering a heart attack in Sidhi district on Monday morning, Rao said.
Besides, a poll staffer posted at Seoni in Balaghat Lok Sabha seat suffered brain hemorrhage and succumbed to it on Sunday evening, he said.
BJP Urges EC to Deploy Central Forces in All Polling Booths of WB
Amid reports of violence during fourth phase of polling in West Bengal, the BJP Monday approached the Election Commission complaining that TMC workers have "hijacked democracy in the state" and again demanded deployment of central forces in all polling booths there, reported news agency PTI.
A BJP delegation, which includes Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vijay Goel, and the party's media in-charge Anil Baluni, met the top officials of the poll panel here and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
With a Handful of Seats, You Can't Reach Delhi: PM Modi Tells Mamata on Poll Day
Addressing a rally in West Bengal's Sreerampur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that 40 All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs will quit party once BJP wins the on-going Lok Sabha polls.
"Forty TMC MLAs in touch with me, all its lawmakers will desert the party once BJP wins polls," he said.
“With handful of seats, 'Didi' you can't reach Delhi,” the prime minister said.
Voter Turnout 49.53% Till 3 PM
Confident of Winning: CPI's Kanhaiya Kumar on Polling Day
CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar on Monday exuded confidence he will come up trumps in his much-talked about electoral debut against nominees of the mightier BJP and the RJD, asserting that people of Begusarai would vote from "dil" (hearts) and not go by dal (party).
Waiting for his turn to cast his vote at a polling station inside a government secondary school that he had attended, the former JNU students' union president said he was excited to be at his alma mater in a new role.
The 32-year-old, who shot to fame three years ago when he was booked in a sedition case lodged in Delhi, is engaged in a three-cornered contest with Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh and RJD veteran Tanveer Hassan.
BJD Writes to CEO, Alleges Booth Capturing by BJP
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) writes to Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha over alleged "booth capturing by BJP".
"BJP goons conducted booth capturing in 12 booths of Bari assembly constituency under Jajpur parliamentary constituency while the polling was going on today," the letter states.
Phase 4 Lok Sabha Polls: 50.6% Voter Turnout in 72 Constituencies
Election Commission to Register FIR Against BJP Candidate Babul Supriyo
The Election Commission has directed West Bengal Police to register FIR against Union Minister and BJP candidate from Asanso Babul Supriyo, for allegedly trespassing into booth number 199 and threatening a polling agent and an officer, reported ANI.
EC Orders FIR Against 2 BJP Candidates for Speaking On Phone in Polling Booth
The Election Commission has also ordered FIR against two BJP candidates Doodh Kumar Mondol (Birbhum) and Kalyan Chaubey (Krishnanagar) for speaking on the phone in the polling booth. Rigging allegations have also been leveled against them.
EC Holds Media Briefing as Phase Four Polling Touches Fag End
64% Voter Turnout in 72 Constituencies
Three Women Cast Bogus Votes in Kasargod Constituency: CEO
Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena today said three women, including a panchayat member, cast bogus votes in Kasargod constituency in the 23 April Lok Sabha polls and said an enquiry would be held into the role of the polling officials.
Rejecting the bogus voting charge, the ruling CPI(M) hads justified the presence of the three women, saying they were doing "open voting" and 'assisting' certain voters who were unable to exercise their franchise independently and had welcomed any probe into the charge.