The fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Monday witnessed over 62% polling across 96 constituencies in 10 states and Union Territories. West Bengal recorded the highest polling with a 75.91% voter turnout, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 68.48%. Jammu Kashmir and Maharashtra were the laggards, with 36.58% and 52.63% polling, respectively. Among other states, Andhra Pradesh saw 68.12% polling, Bihar 55.90%, Jharkhand 63.37%, Odisha 63.85%, Telangana 61.29%, and Uttar Pradesh 57.76%. This is provisional data, and the overall voter turnout will likely increase. While the polling was largely peaceful, some incidents of violence were reported in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. There were also reports of EVMs malfunctioning at some West Bengal and Odisha booths.
The TDP and YSRCP traded allegations of violence against each other in the state, especially in Palnadu, Kadapa, and Annamayya districts. YSRCP accused TDP of violating the poll code in various constituencies and capturing polling booths. On the other hand, TDP alleged that YSRCP workers damaged vehicles belonging to their candidate and assaulted their agents. YSRCP MLA A Shiva Kumar allegedly slapped a voter in Tenali after an argument broke out over the lawmaker jumping the queue, following which the voter returned in kind.
In Telangana, BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha, who is challenging AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad, was booked by election authorities for allegedly asking women voters to lift their burqa to match their identity at a polling booth.
Srinagar voted amid rising concerns about low voter turnout and the campaign’s increasingly acrimonious tenor. The ruling BJP isn’t contesting the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat or the two other parliamentary constituencies from the Muslim-majority Kashmir region. Several displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu were unable to cast their votes as their names were missing from the electoral rolls.
The subsequent three phases are scheduled for May 20, May 25, and June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4.
