Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE Updates: Polling for the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am on Monday, 13 May, with 1,717 candidates contesting in 96 constituencies across 10 states and union territories.
The fourth phase was marred by reports of poll violence in Andhra Pradesh even as videos of UP's Lakhimpur Kheri voters alleging "EVM fraud" flooded social media.
These include 25 constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and 17 constituencies in Telangana which are voting in a single phase, along with some constituencies in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the key candidates who are in fray are Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj, Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad, and Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Berhampore.
Over 17.70 crore voters, including 8.97 crore men and 8.73 crore women electors, are eligible to cast their votes in Phase 4.
17 seats in Telangana will complete polling in a single phase.
Andhra Pradesh voters will also be casting their ballots in the legislative Assembly elections on Monday.
Srinagar is witnessing a triangular fight between J&K National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party.
TMC's Mahua Moitra is up against BJP’s Amrita Roy from Krishnagar in West Bengal.
In Baharampur, Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is up against former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan contesting on a TMC ticket.
Former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known by his initials KCR, casts his vote.
Photo: Twitter/ @BRSparty
YSRCP MLA Slaps Voter Waiting in Line, Case Filed
Andhra Pradesh Police have registered a case against sitting YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Sivakumar after he slapped a voter waiting in line at the polling booth in Tenali Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district on Monday, 13 May.
According to the FIR accessed by The Quint, complainant Gottumukkala Sudhakar said that Sivakumar and his family members skipped the line and went into the polling booth to cast their ballots. Sudhakar further alleged that he was slapped after questioning Sivakumar for not waiting in line like others.
"Further, Sivakumar's followers (7-8 members) wrongfully restrained him and beat him with hands and legs. Due to that he received bleeding injuries on his face," the FIR read which has been filed under Sections 341, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
62.31% Turnout Till 5PM, Lowest in Jammu and Kashmir
An approximate voter turnout of 62.31 percent was recorded till 5pm on Monday, 13 May, in constituencies where polling is being held as part of the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to the Election Commission.
The state-wise breakup of voter turnout in Phase 4 is as follows:
Andhra Pradesh: 68.04%
Bihar: 54.14%
Jammu and Kashmir: 35.75%
Jharkhand: 63.14%
Madhya Pradesh: 68.01%
Maharashtra: 52.49%
Odisha: 62.96%
Telangana: 61.16%
Uttar Pradesh: 56.35%
West Bengal: 75.66%
Party Workers Clash in Andhra Pradesh
Violence erupted in Andhra Pradesh where voters are headed to the polling booth to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections as well as the legislative Assembly elections at the state-level.
Party workers from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) clashed in Macherla constituency in the state's Palnadu district, resulting in two persons being injured, according to a report by The Newsminute.