Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 5: Top Constituencies To Monitor On May 20

Voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, covering 49 constituencies across eight states and union territories will be conducted, on May 20 (Monday). These states include Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, along with two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The fate of five Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will be decided by Uttar Pradesh. Campaigning for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections concluded on Saturday, May 18, with the last date for filing nominations set on May 3.

Photo Credit: PTI

In the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls 2024, significant candidates such as Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Karan Bhushan Singh, Chirag Paswan, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Omar Abdullah, and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Rohini Acharya will be contesting for electoral success.

The constituencies voting in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls 2024 include:
- 3 out of 14 constituencies in Jharkhand.
- 5 out of 21 constituencies in Odisha.
- 14 out of 80 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
- 5 out of 40 constituencies in Bihar.
- 13 out of 48 constituencies in Maharashtra.
- 7 out of 42 constituencies in West Bengal.
- 1 constituency in Ladakh.
- 1 out of 5 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Key constituencies for Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha polls include:

- Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh: The Congress, represented by Rahul Gandhi, is contesting in Rae Bareli, where his mother, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, had been elected four times previously. Rahul Gandhi is also seeking re-election in Wayanad, Kerala.

- Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: The Congress is intensely battling to reclaim the seat from Union minister Smriti Irani. Amethi has been a stronghold for the Congress, having sent two prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, to Parliament. Rahul Gandhi won this seat in 2004, 2009, and 2014 before being defeated by Smriti Irani in 2019.

- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is seeking a fourth term from Lucknow. He is contesting against sitting Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra.

- Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh: BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been denied a ticket due to charges of sexual harassment. The BJP has nominated his son, Karan Bhushan, from this seat.

- Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh: Home to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, Lallu Singh is seeking re-election on a BJP ticket, with Awadhesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party as his main rival.

- Saran, Bihar: Former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter, Rohini Acharya, is challenging the BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Her father had also represented this seat in the past.

- Hajipur, Bihar: LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is aiming to carry forward his father's legacy. He is contesting against RJD's Shiv Chandra Ram.

- Mumbai North, Maharashtra: BJP has fielded Piyush Goyal against Congress's Bhushan Patil for the Mumbai North seat, which is a stronghold of the BJP.

- Ladakh: The lone constituency in the union territory has seen protests against the BJP. The Congress aims to capitalize on local grievances, including the demand to bring the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

- Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is pitted against Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference and Mir Mohammad Fayaz of the Peoples Democratic Party.