Fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls by and large peaceful

In Bikaner, Rajasthan, two former bureaucrats contested against each other, Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh BJP’s saw Smriti Irani taking on Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Bengal’s Barrackpur, a former TMC MLA fighting against TMC’s MP, Saran in Bihar where Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy challenging RJD’s Chandrika Rai.

Under a scorching sun, the maximum polling was reported in Bengal (7 seats) with 74.06 pc while the least 17.07 pc in Jammu and Kashmir (2 seats).

In Bihar (5 seats) 52.86 pc voting took place, Madhya Pradesh (7 seats) 61.93 pc, Rajasthan (12 seats) 59.12 pc, Uttar Pradesh (14 seats) 52.97 pc and Jharkhand (4 seats) 61.27 per cent.

Anantnag parliamentary constituency recorded “extremely poor” voter turnout with less than 3 per cent polling witnessed in twin south Kashmir districts of Pulwam and Shopian amid heightened security cover.

In Bengal, sporadic violence was reported, the most maximum in Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency where Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Arjun Singh from Barrackpore was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress workers.

Election Commission has sought a report on violence from Barrackpore administrative authority.

Briefing media in New Delhi, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar accused the TMC of creating violence and capturing booths. He, moreover, called for repoll in the Barrackpore constituency.

In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi party submitted a memorandum to the EC alleging rigging of polls in Kunda and Babaganj Assembly segment of Kaushambhi Lok Sabha seat.

The party alleged that Dalits were forcefully not allowed to cast their votes.

The EC has sought a report from Amethi administrative authority after Union Minister Smriti Irani, who is in fray from this constituency, alleged that a old lady was forced to cast her vote to Indian National Congress.

In Madhya Pradesh, Tikamgarh witnessed 55 pc polling, Damoh and Khajuraho 53, Satna 52, Rewa 47, Hoshangabad 62 and Betul 64.

Residents of Atarhari village in Panna district boycotted the polls owing to a water crisis.

The Assembly’s leader of the Opposition Gopal Bhargava voted in Sagar District’s Garhakota.

Film personality Ashutosh Rana exercised his franchise in Narsinghpur District’s Gadarwara and the centre happened to be the school where he had studied in.

In Rajasthan, 47.89 per cent voter turnout was registered in Sriganganagar, 41.04 in Bikaner, 44.38 in Churu, 41.71 in Jhunjhunu, 43.57 in Sikar, 42.81 in Jaipur rural, 44.59 in Jaipur urban, 44.16 in Alwar, 40.80 in Bharatpur, 38.26 in Karauli-Dholpur, 42.33 in Dausa and 43.49 people exercised their franchise in Nagaur.

Voting was reported to be by and large peaceful in the desert state barring incidents of poll boycott in Dholpur and Karauli and malfunctioning of EVMS in certain places.

Two villages--Chak and Shyonathpura-- of Anupgarh and Suratgarh assemblies boycotted the polls over acute scarcity of water in their village.

In Uttar Pradesh, till 1500 hrs, the polling percentage was 49.23 pc in Dhaurarha ,50.32 pc in Sitapur, 48.22 pc in Mohanlalganj, 43.07 pc in Lucknow, 42.68 pc in Rae Bareli, 41.92 pc in Amethi, 46.91 pc in Banda, 42.44 pc in Fatehpur, 40.37 pc in Kaushambhi ,49.64 pc in Barabanki, 46.34 pc in Faizabad,44.50 pc in Bahriach ,43.20 pc in Kaiserganj and 42.67 pc in Gonda.

Clash took place in Barabanki, Harinarayanpur village, said that the clash took place between the supporters of two political parties.

The clash took place at Harinarayanpur village at booth number 270 of Barabanki Lok sabha seat. However, polling was not disturbed due to the clash.

Pratapgarh authorities had detained Raja Bhaiyya along with ten other leaders of the district to maintain law and order while polling.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh, BSP president Mayawati, Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon exercised their franchise in state capital Lucknow.

In Bengal, Uluberia accounted for 66.20 per cent polling till 1500 hrs, Bongaon 61.66 per cent, Barrackpore 61.62 per cent, Howrah 64.21 per cent, Hooghly 61.46 per cent, Arambag 66.20 and Sreerampore 56.90 per cent.

TMC candidate from Howrah Prasun Banerjee and his CA Indranil Chatterjee were allegedly beaten up by central forces after Mamata Banerjee got involved in a spat with the security personnel outside a polling station in Baltikuri in the Shibpur area of south Howrah.

In another incident at Himli area under Bongaon constituency Asit Das, purportedly a TMC supporter, suffered head injuries after crude bombs were hurled.

BJP candidate Arjun Singh from Barrackpore alleged that he was attacked by TMC workers.

In Bihar, highest polling of 46 per cent was recorded in Saran followed by 44.71 per cent in Muzaffarpur, 44.60 in Sitamarhi, 43.60 in Hajipur and 42.65 per cent in Madhubani seat.

A youth damaged the ballot unit of EVM at booth number 131 under Sonepur assembly segment in Saran Lok Sabha constituency.

In Bihar, highest polling of 61.30 per cent was recorded in Muzaffarpur, while lowest polling was registered at 55.50 per cent in Madhubani seat. Polling in Saran seat was registered at 58 per cent while 56.90 electorates exercised their franchise in Sitamarhi seat and 57.72 per cent in Hajipur seat.

Polling passed off peacefully amid tight security arrangements, barring few incidents of disruption in voting in Saran Lok Sabha seat.

Voting was disrupted for some time at booth number 161 while a youth damaged EVM at booth number 131 in Saran Lok Sabha constituency.

In Jharkhand, Koderma recorded average voter turnout of 65.70 per cent, Ranchi 62.30 per cent, Khunti 64.10 per cent and Hazaribagh 62.91 per cent.

Voting in Jharkhand was peaceful.

In Ladakh, the largest constituency of the nation area wise, 40.32 pc voter turnout was recorded.

With Monday’s polling, voting came to an end in 413 of 543 seats of the House of the People, leaving the rest for sixth and seventh phases.

The mandate for the 17th Lok Sabha will be announced on May 23.