Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 59.06 per cent voter turnout in phase six

A voter turnout of approximately 5906 per cent was recorded in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday reported PTI Polling was held in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories with the polling percentage in the Jangal Mahal region of West Bengal touching 7819 per centIncidents of minor clashes and protests were reported from West Bengal while there were instances of EVM malfunctioning at some places including DelhiJharkhand recorded a turnout of 6274 per cent Uttar Pradesh 5403 per cent Bihar 5330 per cent Jammu and Kashmir 5228 per cent Haryana 5837 per cent Odisha 6007 and Delhi 5448 per cent according to the figures released by the Election Commission EC as of 745 pmAs per the PTI report the EC said polling percentage in the AnantnagRajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir is the highest in many decadesWith the end of Phase six today polling is now complete in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories The last of the seven phases of polling is scheduled on June 1 and counting of votes will be taken up on June 4With large parts of India sweltering under a heatwave arrangements for cold water coolers fans and tents were made at several polling stations Wheelchairs were also kept for the assistance of elderly votersThe EC had directed election officials and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weatherOver 1113 crore voters 584 crore male 529 crore female and 5120 third gender were eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase The Election Commission EC deployed around 114 lakh polling officials at 114 lakh polling stationsIn the national capital of Delhi President Droupadi Murmu Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Delhi minister Atishi and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were among those who cast their votesApart from the seven seats of Delhi polling was held in 14 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh all 10 seats in Haryana eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal six seats in Odisha four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and KashmirSimultaneously polling was being held for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and the Karnal assembly bypoll in HaryanaIn West Bengal voting was held in the tribal belt Jangal Mahal region spanning five districts A hotspot for identity politics the region sends eight representatives to Lok Sabha from Tamluk Kanthi Ghatal Jhargram Medinipur Purulia Bankura and Bishnupur seats Out of the eight seats the BJP won five and TMC bagged three in the 2019 pollsMinor clashes broke out between supporters of the ruling TMC and BJP in the Ghatal constituency over stopping polling agents from entering the boothsIn the Midnapore constituency BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul faced go back slogans from TMC activists Subsequently a scuffle broke out between BJP and TMC activists following which central forces reached the spot to disperse the mobAround 8216 lakh voters including 4009 lakh females were eligible to exercise their franchise in Giridih Dhanbad Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies of JharkhandIn a bid to increase polling percentage in urban booths of Ranchi the district administration tied up with a biketaxi aggregator to provide free pickanddrop facilities to votersIn Bihar 86 candidates are in the fray in the eight seats of Valmiki Nagar Pashchim Champaran Purbi Champaran Sheohar Siwan Gopalganj Maharajganj and VaishaliOfficials said 107 people were arrested or detained in the state for causing disruptions and attempting to hinder the voting process Security forces seized Rs 286 crore in cash and 353 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 946 crore from various locations within the eight seats during the day