New Delhi, Apr 18: The second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 ended on Thursday, with over 66 per cent voters exercising their franchise. While West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout with 75.27 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the lowest with 43.37 per cent.
The polling was by and large peaceful barring some stray incidents and a clash between the TMC and BJP workers in West Bengal. There were some EVM related issues in Odisha and the state electoral officer recommended re-polling in four booths.
In West Bengal's Islampur, CPM MP Mohammad Salim's car was attacked. Salim, who was also injured in the attack, blamed the attack on "Trinamool goons".
In Karnataka's Mandya, clashes broken out between supporters of HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda and Sumalatha Ambareesh, the widow of actor-politician Ambareesh. Gowda is the JD(S) candidate from Mandya, while Sumalatha is contesting as an Independent.
All of Tamil Nadu except Vellore went to polls in the second phase today and 14 out of 28 seats of Karnataka voted on April 18. The voter turnout stood at 61.84 percent in Karnataka till 5 pm.
Meanwhile, Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 has begun across 95 parliamentary constituencies spread across 12 states and one Union Territories (UTs).
Follow all the updates from second phase polling here:
Apr 18, 2019, 7:53 PM IST
“The turnout was 73.32% at 5 pm in Assam. In West Bengal, the polling percentage was 76.07. In Manipur, the poll percentage was 74.3. In 2014, the polling percentage was 75.16,” the Election Commission said.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:53 PM IST
“Peaceful polling took place in J&K. In Udhampur, voter turnout was 66.67% . In 2014 it was 71.48. In Srinagar, the turnout was 13.43% at 5 pm and it was 25.07% in 2014,” said the election commission.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:38 PM IST
The Election Commission has launched an App called the voter turnout app. All Android users can see the assembly and state wise polling percentage. This app is available on Google Playstore.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:37 PM IST
“In Tamil Nadu, the voter turnout was 73.58% in 2014. However, in these elections, the polling percentage was 72%,” the election commissioner told the media.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:37 PM IST
“In Puducherry, polling was peaceful. There were 9. 7 lakh voters. In 2014, the voter turnout was 82.1% while this year it was 78%,” said the election commissioner.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:37 PM IST
‘Tentatively, 7.8 crore women and 8.45 lakh persons with disabilities voted in the second phase of elections. Some people are still waiting in the line to vote so these figures are tentative,” said CEC Sunil Arora.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:20 PM IST
Election Commission: 2nd phase of General Elections concluded today...By today, polling has concluded completely in 14 states and Union Territories.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:22 PM IST
West Bengal
75.27 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:22 PM IST
Bihar
58.14 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:21 PM IST
Assam
73.32 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:13 PM IST
Puducherry
73 percent polling in Puducherry till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:12 PM IST
Odisha
64 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:11 PM IST
Manipur
74.3 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:11 PM IST
Jammu and Kashmir
43.3 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:10 PM IST
Uttar Pradesh
58.6 percent voter turnout recorded till 5 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:01 PM IST
Polling percentage at 60.18 per cent as of 5:00 PM across 95 seats in 12 states, say reports.
Apr 18, 2019, 5:53 PM IST
Assam
An estimated 60.38 percent of the 69,10,592 electorate exercised their franchise till 3 p m in five parliamentary constituencies of Assam in the second phase of polling.
Apr 18, 2019, 5:52 PM IST
Karnataka
61.84 percent voter turnout recorded in Karnataka till 5 pm. 14 Lok Sabha seats of Karnataka went to polls today.
Apr 18, 2019, 5:43 PM IST
Tamil Nadu
Polling percentage in Tamil Nadu as at 3:00 PM reported at 52.02 percent.
Apr 18, 2019, 5:21 PM IST
"Technical problems arose due to lapses on part of the polling officers, action will be taken against those officers for dereliction of duty," says Surendra Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha.
Apr 18, 2019, 5:20 PM IST
Odisha
Surendra Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha has recommended re-polling in booth 213 in Sundergarh, booth 129 in Bonai, and booths 210 & 222 in Daspalla assembly constituency due to technical problems in EVM machines and VVPATs.
Apr 18, 2019, 4:51 PM IST
Maharashtra
The net polling percentage in Maharashtra till 3:00 PM is 46.63 percent.
50.86 per cent voter turnout was observed till 3 pm.
Apr 18, 2019, 4:26 PM IST
Following episodes of violence across West Bengal today on polling day, the Bengal BJP has written to the EC demanding deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to cover 100 per cent polling booths. The state unit has cited no-confidence by both the BJP and the common people in the West Bengal State Police as they fail to curb violence.
Apr 18, 2019, 4:08 PM IST
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh records 59.72% polling till 3 pm and Darjeeling sees 59%.
Apr 18, 2019, 4:01 PM IST
Jammu and Kashmir
Voter turnout till 3 PM in Jammu and Kashmir is 38.5 per cent, including 5.7 per cent in Srinagar
Apr 18, 2019, 4:00 PM IST
West Bengal
The poll percentage in West Bengal stands at 65.43 per cent at 3 pm. Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha constituency stands at 71.32 per cent, Darjeeling at 63.14 per cent, Raiganj at 61.84 per cent voter turnout.
Apr 18, 2019, 4:00 PM IST
Assam
Voter turn out in 5 constituencies of Assam that went to polls today stand as follows at 3 pm. The Autonomous District constituency has seen a 62.70 per cent voter turn out despite a grenade blast yesterday.
Apr 18, 2019, 3:28 PM IST
Across India, overall voter turnout has been recorded at 37.81 percent. Among all the 11 states in fray today, 46.76 percent have voted in Assam; 38.87 percent in Bihar; 29.88 percent in Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka recorded a 21.47 percent.
Other states, like Uttar Pradesh recorded 38.48 percent, West Bengal at 51.68 percent and Tamil Nadu at 37.93 percent.
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Apr 18, 2019, 2:04 am IST
As per the original schedule released by the Election Commission on March 10, 97 seats were to vote on Thursday, but the election Tamil Nadu's Vellore has been cancelled and the polling in Tripura was deferred.
Apr 18, 2019, 2:04 am IST
Some crucial seats in eastern India like Silchar and Karimganj in Assam; Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West Bengal. Silchar and Karimganj are areas where the Citizenship Ammendment Bill (CAB) is said to have support. Sitting MP from Silchar is Congress's Sushmita Dev and the BJP has made it amply clear that winning is Silchar is one of their top priorities in Assam.
Apr 18, 2019, 2:04 am IST
In the political crucial Uttar Pradesh, important seats like Mathura, Agra and Aligarh are going to vote along with five other Lok Sabha seats. BJP's MP from Mathura, actor turned politician Hema Malini, is not only battling the anti-incumbency but also constant attack from the opposition for allegedly neglecting the constituency.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:08 am IST
Security personnel in Gujarat have cast their vote through the postal ballot. Voting for 95 constituencies will begin at 7 am.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:37 am IST
In the 2014 elections, the BJP had won 27 out of the 95 seats. Six seats went to the NDA partners. The Congress on the other hand won only 12 of these 95 seats, while its UPA partners bagged three seats. This means that 47 of the remaining seats went to the non NDA and non UPA parties.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:02 am IST
This would be the first election in Tamil Nadu which is being held after the deaths Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:02 am IST
Voting begins for 95 Lok Sabha seats in second phase of voting
Apr 18, 2019, 7:13 am IST
The voting in Vellore was rescinded, while in Tripura it was re-scheduled. The Election Commission is yet to announce the fresh dates.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:17 am IST
P Chidambaram has cast his vote at a polling station in Karaikudi, Shivaganga.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:25 am IST
Sushilkumar Shinde of the Congress who is taking on Prakash Ambedkar in Solapur has cast his vote. The former union home minister is facing a tough battle, but has said that he is confident of his victory.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:27 am IST
Actor, Rajinikanth had sent out feelers galore that he would be fighting the elections. It was also said that he would ally with the BJP. However at the last minute, he said he would not contest the elections. Meanwhile the actor has cast his vote a polling station at the Stella Maris College in the Chennai parliamentary seat.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:30 am IST
The first EVM complaint of the day. The VVPAT is not working correctly at a polling station in Silchar. Polling officials on duty are working on it.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:38 am IST
In the 2014 elections, it may be recalled that the AIADMK had swept the elections in Tamil Nadu. It had won 37 out of the 39 seats. This year the prospects of the party, without Jayalalithaa look bleak.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:54 am IST
The Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven-phases for 543 seats on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19, and counting will be on May 23.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:56 am IST
People of Tamil Nadu want a change in government both in the state and centre. This is why we are getting so much support says P Chidambaram.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:56 am IST
Bangalore South candidate Tejasvi Surya has cast his vote. He is up against B K Hariprasad of the Congress.
Apr 18, 2019, 7:56 am IST
Everyone should come out and vote says Rajinikanth after casting his vote in Chennai.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:00 am IST
Of the 95 constituencies polling today, the AIADMK holds the maximum of 36 seats, followed by the BJP with 27 seats. The Congress had won 12 of these seats in 2014, the Shiv Sena and the BJD 4 each, the JD-S and the RJD two each and the AIUDF, the NCP, the JD-U, the PDP, the AINRC, the PMK, the CPI-M and the TMC one seat each.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:06 am IST
Modi urges youngsters to vote in large numbers. In a tweet, Modi said, Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls start today. I am sure all those whose seats are polling today will strengthen our democracy by exercising their franchise. I hope more youngsters head to the polling booths and vote.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
Over 15.80 crore voters will decide the fate of the 1,600-odd contestants.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
Nalini Chidambaram and her son Karti Chidambaram have cast their vote in Sivaganga.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
There are some delay at Booth Number 27 in Chennai’s Eldam Road. Voting was delayed at this booth where Kamal Hassan will cast his vote.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami cast his vote at a booth in Siluvampalayam village.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
Interesting fact: A former prime minister, four union ministers are among the 1,600 candidates contesting the elections today.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:10 am IST
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cast her vote in the Bangalore South constituency. The battle in this constituency is between Tejasvi Surya of the BJP and B K Hariprasad.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:14 am IST
More EVM trouble: Polling was delayed in booths are Agra and Mathura owing to EVM glitches. EVMs have to be changed in a few places.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:14 am IST
Prominent faces in the fray in the Lok Sabha contest are Union ministers Jitendra Singh, Jual Oram, Sadananda Gowda and Pon Radhakrishnan; former prime minister H D Deve Gowda; DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja and Kanimozhi; Congress leaders Verappa Moily and Raj Babbar; National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and BJP's Hema Malini.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:16 am IST
Mobile internet services have been suspended in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar and Udhampur parliamentary seats in the state are polling today.
Apr 18, 2019, 8:21 am IST
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan stood in a queue outside polling station 27 at Alwarpet Corporation School in Chennai to cast their votes.
Tamil Nadu: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan queue up outside polling station 27 at Alwarpet Corporation School in Chennai to cast their votes. #LokSabhaElections2019pic.twitter.com/ufeYNJ3pdM
Voting is also underway in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha and in 18 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.
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The polling is currently underway in 38 seats in Tamil Nadu, 14 seats in Karnataka, 10 in Maharashtra, eight in Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam, Bihar and Odisha, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one seat in Manipur and Puducherry.
Important leaders whose fate would be decided are Union ministers Jual Oram, Sadananda Gowda and Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP's Hema Malini, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Congress leaders Verappa Moily, Raj Babbar and Tariq Anwar, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, and DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja and Kanimozhi.
The Lok Sabha polls are being held in seven-phases for 543 seats on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19, and counting will be on May 23.
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