LS: Fifth phase voting witnesses good turnout

In this round of the nine phase polls in India, 16.61 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots to elect their representatives from 121 seats across 12 states.

The state of West Bengal underwent their first round of polling on Thursday. 

In this phase, polling was held in four constituencies of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar, all in north Bengal.

Heavy voting was recorded till 5 pm in Jalpaiguri (80.62 percent); Darjeeling (76.07 percent); Cooch Bihar (80.66 percent); Alipurduar (79.47 percent).

Eyes were on the contest in Darjeeling where the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has been demanding a separate Gorkhaland state. Here former India football captain Baichung Bhutia is the Trinamool Congress candidate taking on BJP's S S Ahluwalia backed by GJM.

In Karnataka, about 55 percent of electoral rights were exercised till 5 pm.

While Bangalore North recorded 45 percent; Bangalore Central witnessed 42 percent and Bangalore South registered 43 percent voter turnout in the state.

The urban landscape of Bangalore is of high interest with corporate entry like that of Nandan Nilekani spicing up the battle.

Infosys man Nandan Nilekani, who is fighting the polls as a Congress candidate from Bangalore South seat, is hopeful of winning riding on a Parivartan (change) in Karnataka.

"The voter turnout is hight. I am happy about it," said Nilekani who is pitted against BJP's  Ananth Kumar.

In Madhya Pradesh, about 51.02 percent of electorates exercised their voting rights.

The state of Maharashtra witnessed 44 percent turnout till 3 pm.

About 3,24,27,558 voters in  western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Konkan region constituencies were eligible to  vote in this second phase of polling in the state. A total of 19 seats were up for grabs to decide the fate of 358 candidates. Former chief minister Ashok Chavan was a major contender.
 
The politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh registered about 58.86 percent of voter turnout. The city of Moradabad witnessed about 63 percent turnout.

Good turnout was also witnessed in Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh, which recorded about 60 percent turnout in three constituencies of the state.

In Bihar, 54 percent of electorates exercised their franchise to elect their representatives till 5.30 pm.

As many as 11,85,07,86 voters were eligible to exercise their franchise across 11,846 polling stations in Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Munger, Ara and Buxar Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

There were a total of 117 candidates in the fray, including four BJP candidates - RK Singh (Ara), Ashwini Choubey (Buxar), Shatrughan Sinha (Patna Sahib) and Ram Kripal Yadav (Pataliputra).

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s eldest daughter Misa Bharti, who contested the polls from Pataliputra, for breaking an EVM booth at Munger, reports said.

In Rajasthan the voter turnout till 5 pm was 53.24 percent while the state of Odisha recorded 70 percent of balloting till 6 pm.

Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent from Barmer constituency in Rajasthan, on Thursday said he is confident to win by a huge margin.

"The response and support I have got today is incredible.  I am confident to win from Barmer by a huge margin," said Singh.

He also denied a "Narendra Modi wave" in Barmer. "Here we have no Modi wave," he said.

Good turnout was witnessed in the state of Jharkhand which registered balloting of 55.34 percent till 4 pm.


Fifth Phase at a Glance: 

28 seats in Karnataka, 20 seats in Rajasthan, 19 seats in Maharashtra , 11 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 11 seats in Odisha, 10 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 7 in Bihar, 6 in Jharkhand, 4 in West Bengal, 3 in Chhattisgarh, 1 in Jammu and Kashmir and 1 in Manipur