The sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls witnessed a turnout of 63.3% as 59 parliamentary constituencies in seven States voted on May 12, the Election Commission said.
The sixth phase of polling was held for eight seats in Bihar, all 10 seats in Haryana and all seven in Delhi, four in Jharkhand, eight in Madhya Pradesh, 14 in Uttar Pradesh and eight in West Bengal.
Election Commission officials said the final polling percentage may rise as there were queues at some places and this figure is till 6 p.m. The percentage for various States separately was not available immediately as information was being collected from various states, the ECI officials said.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj were among those who cast their vote in Delhi.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Union Minister and BJP’s Chandni Chowk candidate Harsh Vardhan, ex-cricketer and BJP’s East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir, Congress’s New Delhi and Northeast Delhi candidates Ajay Maken and Sheila Dikshit also voted.
Over 10.17 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to choose among the 979 candidates in fray. The Election Commission has set up over 1.13 lakh polling stations for smooth conduct of polls.
Click here for details on the number of seats, key candidates, and more.
Here are the latest updates:
ECI presser on poll numbers
As the phase 6 has concluded, the Election Commission is holding a press conference to announce the poll numbers.
- Delhi: 56.11% turnout was recorded in till 5 pm compared to the final turnout of 65.1% in 2014
- Haryana: 62.91% turnout till 5 pm compared to 71.86% in 2014
- Madhya Pardesh: 60.06% till 5 pm, compared to 56.81% in 2014
- Jharkhand : 65.17% so far, as against 64.53% last time
- Tripura West: 72.28% turnout so far in 168 polling stations where repoll was held
- Bihar: 59.38% turnout till 6 pm, over 2% rise over 2014 figure
- Uttar Pradesh : 54.12% turnout till now compared to 54.53% in 2014
- Overall turnout for phase 6: 63.3% polling till now compared to 63.67% in 2014
Election Commission officials say the final polling percentage may rise as there were queues at some places and this figure is till 6 p.m.
ECI says 0.35% ballot units, 0.38% control units and 1.52% VVPATs were replaced due to malfunction, the lowest figure in six phases.
Voter turnout crosses 60%
As per the updates at 6.32 p.m. in the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India, the turnout has crossed 60%. Though voting officially closes at 6 p.m., those who managed to get into the queue by then will be allowed to vote. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 55.32% |
| Haryana | 62.51% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 60.30% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 51.82% |
| West Bengal | 80.16% |
| Jharkhand | 64.46% |
| Delhi | 55.51% |
59.74% voter turnout till 6 p.m.
According to the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India, the turnout is 59.74% till 6 p.m. as voting comes to a close. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 55.04% |
| Haryana | 62.34% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 60.12% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 50.82% |
| West Bengal | 80.13% |
| Jharkhand | 64.46% |
| Delhi | 55.44% |
Delhi's transgender voters excited at voting for the first time under gender identity of their choice
Excited about voting under their chosen gender identity for the first time in general elections, the transgender voters in the national capital flaunted their inked fingers and expressed hope for a government which ensures them a better future.
This is the first time that transgenders are voting under the category after Supreme Court had declared them as the “third gender” in 2014. Earlier they had to vote as male or female.
For 32-year-old Janasheen, it was an incredible experience. “I have voted before but this is the first time I am voting as a transgender, an identity which I am proud of now. I have also posted a selfie on my WhatsApp status with my inked finger.”
Sapna Bai, a transgender who voted in Matia Mahal said, “I am very happy that I can cast my vote as what I really am. I want a new government which thinks about us and also consider us equally on their agenda“.
51.77% voter turnout till 5 p.m.
According to the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India, the turnout is 51.77% till 5 p.m. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 45.78% |
| Haryana | 54.66% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 54.28% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 43.50% |
| West Bengal | 70.77% |
| Jharkhand | 58.32% |
| Delhi | 45.44% |
Attack on BJP candidate by TMC in West Bengal act of frustration: Javadekar
New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday termed the attack on its candidate Bharati Ghosh in West Bengal an “act of frustration” by the ruling Trinamool Congress in the State and claimed that the days of the Mamata Banerjee government are numbered.
The party also demanded that the Election Commission of India take suo motu cognisance of matter.
Ms. Ghosh was allegedly attacked twice by locals on May 12 when the former IPS officer tried to visit polling stations in Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency, where she is the BJP candidate, when polling was under way there.
One of her security guards was injured in stone pelting while Ms. Ghosh herself suffered minor injuries when a group of women allegedly attacked her when she tried to take a BJP agent inside a polling booth at Keshpur area in the morning.
Union Minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said, “Stones were pelted on her car and she was also injured. Instead of taking action against the goons, Ghosh’s movements have been restricted and her car, which was vandalised, has been seized by the local administration. This is unacceptable. The TMC goons are engaged in unabated violence against the BJP. This is an act of frustration.”
The State CEO has sought reports from the West Midnapore District Magistrate about the incidents.
Mr. Javadekar also claimed that in Jhargam Lok Sabha constituency, the body of a BJP booth president has been recovered.
Demanding that poll observers should ensure proper deployment of Central forces for smooth voting, the Union Minister said, “Mamata [Banerjee] says there is an expiry date for the prime minister. But the way they are conducting elections, the amount of frustration, and with the imminent defeat of the TMC, there is an expiry date of the Mamata government.” — PTI
50.74% voter turnout till 4 p.m.
According to the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India, the turnout is 50.74% till 4 p.m. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 44.40% |
| Haryana | 51.80% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 52.62% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 43.26% |
| West Bengal | 70.51% |
| Jharkhand | 58.08% |
| Delhi | 45.22% |
AAP’s Raghav Chadha alleges bogus voting by BJP workers
New Delhi: AAP’s South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha on Sunday accused BJP workers of casting bogus votes in Sangam Vihar.
No immediate reaction was available from the BJP or police.
Mr. Chadha alleged that the BJP workers have collided with the police and are casting their ballots again and again after removing the ink.
“BJP workers are moving around in a polling booth in Sangam Vihar in BJP scarves, a person voted four times. We identified 8-10 such people and caught one red-handed,” he said.
He claimed that these tactics are being used by his BJP rival Ramesh Bidhuri. — PTI
43.97% voter turnout till 3 p.m.
According to the Election Commission website, the sixth phase of election has seen a voter turnout of 43.97% till 3 p.m. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 40.33% |
| Haryana | 44.46% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 46.56% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 39.73% |
| West Bengal | 59.24% |
| Jharkhand | 50.77% |
| Delhi | 34.44% |
Over 55% votes polled in 6 hrs in West Bengal, BJP candiate attacked
Kolkata: Amid sporadic violence from Paschim Medinipore district, polling at eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal was peaceful as 55.58% of 1,33,69,749 voters exercised their franchise in the first six hours of voting on Sunday.
BJP’s Ghatal candidate Bharati Ghosh was allegedly attacked by locals twice when she tried to visit polling stations in Keshpur in.
Tamluk seat recorded the highest 59.07% voter turnout till 1 p.m. followed by 58.21% in Jhargram (ST), 57.09% in Kanthi, 56.06% in Purulia, 54.95% in Ghatal, 53.02% in Medinipore, 52.84% in Bishunupur (SC), and 52.82% in Bankura, an election official said.
The eight constituencies are spread across five districts of the state.
“Polling is moslty peaceful except some incidents of disturbances in Keshpur. We have sought reports,” a senior official of the State CEO’s office told PTI .
There were reports of attack on BJP’s Ghatal candidate, former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, when she tried to enter a polling booth in Keshpur.
Following it, bombs were hurled at and stones were pelted towards her convoy when she tried to visit another booth in Keshpur after receiving complaints of rigging there.
One of her security guards was injured and a vehicle of her convoy was damaged in the stone pelting following which the security officers restored to lathicharge.
It was also alleged a Trinamool Congress worker was injured in firing by the Central force personnel who were with the BJP candidate who, however, denied the charge.
The official said, “So far we have not received reports of any firing. We are looking into it. Our officials in the districts have been asked to send details of the incidents of attacks on Bharati Ghosh quickly.”
The CEO also sought a report after Ms. Ghosh was seen recording video inside a polling booth at Pikurda in Keshpur.
Ms. Ghosh’s vehicle was again blocked by locals when she tried to enter Keshpur market area. The state police posted in the area intervened and her vehicle was seized.
“Her vehicle has no valid pass to move through the area on the polling day. We cannot allow her to move around like this. This is a matter of security,” the police officer said.
After the seizure, a large number of protesters gathered there and she took shelter inside a temple in Keshpur market area with her security officers guarding her.
The mob also pelted stones to the policemen who resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. Owners of shops in the market downed the shutters.
Ms. Ghosh was then taken to Keshpur police station to protect her from the wrath of the protesters.
BJP’s candidate and State party president Dilip Ghosh also faced protests from locals when he tried to visit a polling booth in his constituency, Midnapore. — PTI
40.42% voter turnout till 2 p.m.
According to the Election Commission website, the sixth phase of election has seen a voter turnout of 40.42% till 2 p.m. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 35.22% |
| Haryana | 41.65% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 43.16% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 34.76% |
| West Bengal | 55.83% |
| Jharkhand | 47.16% |
| NCT of Delhi | 33.78% |
'5.5% VVPAT replaced in Delhi'
5.5% VVPAT have been replaced in Delhi so far, mostly in Chandni Chowk and West Delhi constituencies, says Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh, adding that the control unit and ballot unit replacement is less than 1%.
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A special drive to increase the number of 'third gender' voters was undertaken by election officials in New Delhi.
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Delhi voter turnout at 34.48% till 1 p.m. Lowest turnout in New Delhi. 1) Chandni chowk - 33.10 2) North East Delhi - 36.55 3) East Delhi - 34.40 4) New Delhi - 31.32 5) North West Delhi - 36.09 6) West Delhi - 35.06 7) South Delhi - 34.84 — reports Sidarth Ravi
'38.39% polling Gwalior so far'
There were some rumours of violence and people being forced to vote in Malanpur, but we have not received any complaints from parties or candidates, says Gwalior District Magistrate Anurag Choudhary, adding that 38.39% votes have been polled in Gwalior so far. — reports Damini Nath
39.15% voter turnout till 1 p.m.
According to the Election Commission website, the sixth phase of election has seen a voter turnout of 39.15% till 1 p.m. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 35.22% |
| Haryana | 38.28% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 41.66% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 34.3% |
| West Bengal | 55.6% |
| Jharkhand | 47.25% |
| NCT of Delhi | 31.06% |
111-year-old Bachan Singh, the oldest voter in Delhi, casts vote
New Delhi: Age is just a number, says a family member of 111-year-old Bachan Singh, the oldest voter in Delhi who carried a youthful enthusiasm into the polling station in Tilak Vihar in New Delhi.
Till the last Assembly elections in 2015, the centenarian cycled to the polling booth to cast his vote. This time, he reached the booth in a car along with poll officers in full media glare.
He was later wheeled into the polling both using a chair.
Bachan Singh (111), the oldest voter in Delhi, leaves the polling booth after casting his vote for the sixth phase of the general election 2019, in west Delhi on May 12, 2019.
A paralysis attack around three months ago had rendered the centenarian bedridden. Though Mr. Bachan Singh cannot talk like the way he did before, but he knows how important his vote is.
"I will vote for those who worked for us," he said.
Interestingly, Mr. Bachan Singh doesn't know there's a party called the AAP and that Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi.
"He doesn't even know that the Aam Aadmi Party exists. For him, every election has been a contest between the BJP and the Congress," his youngest son, Jasbeer Singh, 63, says.
Mr. Jasbeer Singh claims his father has never missed out on an election since 1951.
"Till a few years ago, he would cycle to the polling booth and cast his vote. He never needed any help. He cooked for himself and spent most of time doing seva in gurdwara," Mr. Jasbeer Singh says.
The family says they have traditionally voted for the Congress because former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru "supported Namdhari Sikhs at the time of partition". But they think the Aam Aadmi party should be given another chance in Delhi. — PTI
EVM woes continue in Delhi
Issues with the EVM continued in Delhi as machine no: 15 at Gargi Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Green Park stopped working.
Voters who have been queuing up for the last 45 mins complained that they have not been given any information. The Presiding Officer told The Hindu that she has escalated the issue with the Election Commission and a technician is on the way. She said the pooling period could be extended in this booth.
The EVM began developing issues at 11:43 a.m.; the malfunctioning EVM was replaced and the the issue was resolved by 12:42 p.m.
Meanwhile, many voters at modal polling station in New Ashok Nagar were inconvenienced as they had to wait outside, holding mobile phones when their families members went inside to vote. No facilities were made for voters to deposit their phones.
In North East Delhi's Babarpur , locals claimed that the EVM machine in a polling station did not work for nearly an hour at around 7 a.m.; the machine was then replaced.
It is clear BJP govt is going: Priyanka Gandhi after casting vote
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said it was “very clear” that the BJP will face defeat in Lok Sabha polls as people are “angry and distressed” and will convey their sentiments through voting.
Interacting with reporters after exercising her franchise, the senior party leader said, it was “very clear that the BJP government is going“.
“There is anger among people, and they are under distress. Modiji, instead of talking about real issues, has been talking about random things. And, now, they will express their anger against this government through voting,” the Congress general secretary said.
She said this will be witnessed especially in Uttar Pradesh.
- PTI
25.08% voter turnout till 12 p.m.
According to the Election Commission website, the sixth phase of election has seen a voter turnout of 25.08% till 12 noon. The State-wise voter turnout is as follows:
| State | Voter Turnout |
| Bihar | 20.70% |
| Haryana | 23.25% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 28.12% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 21.75% |
| West Bengal | 28.08% |
| Jharkhand | 31.27% |
| NCT of Delhi | 19.51% |
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner of India Sunil Arora, along with his family, vote in Delhi.
CEC Sunil Arora, along with his family, pose for a photo after casting the vote.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda votes in Rohtak
Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, son Deepender Singh Hooda after casting votes in Rohtak on Sunday.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, accompanied by his family, poses for photographs after voting in Rohtak.
AAP protests against distribution of flowers
Roses outside a modal polling station in New Ashok Nagar during Delhi elections 2019
AAP volunteers protested over the distribution of rose flowers in a modal polling station in New Ashok Nagar in Delhi.
Party volunteers said that distributing a 'flower' will help BJP as the latter's symbol is also a flower (lotus). AAP volunteers said it was a conspiracy, and distribution was stopped for a while following their complaint.
However, police and Election Commission officials said that the distribution will continue after a while.
Constituency-wise voter turnout in in Haryana Lok Sabha poll
Till 11 a.m., Haryana recorded 10.57% turnout. The following is the constituency-wise turnout:
Ambala - 14.47 %
Kutukshetra - 12.47 %
Sirsa - 14.81 %
Hisar - 11.11 %
Karnal - 9.67 %
Rohtak - 8.77 %
Sonipat - 12.44 %
Bhiwani - Mahendergarh 13.17 %
Gurugram - 9.25 %
Faridabad - 10.53 %
EVM glitches reported in several areas in Delhi
Complaints about malfunctioning EVMs poured in from several places of the national capital.
Adarsh Gupta, a resident of Matia Mahal area, claimed that at polling booth number 84, 85 and 86, electronic voting machines were initially not working in the morning.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti alleged that EVMs at booths number - 116,117 and 122 - were not functioning.
“EVM in booth 132, Hauzrani is showing 50 votes without anyone casting any vote in the machine n EVMs at booths 116,117, 122 in Malviya nagar not functioning,” Bharti tweeted.
However, there was no immediate reaction from the chief electoral office. - PTI
16.68% voter turnout till 9 a.m. in West Bengal
Polling at eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal remained “peaceful” as 16.68% of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting during the sixth phase, an election official said.
Polling is underway in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram (ST), Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur (SC) constituencies.
“Polling is very peaceful. It is going fine. Our officials are keeping a close watch on the polling process,” he said. There were, however, reports of attack on BJP’s Ghatal candidate, former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, when she tried to enter a polling booth in Keshpur. - PTI
PM Modi used hatred in elections, we used love: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi after casting his vote at a polling booth in New Delhi on Sunday.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi after casting his vote at a polling booth in New Delhi on Sunday.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi cast his vote in Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he “used hatred” during the elections but the grand old party “used love“.
Asserting that this elections saw a “good fight” between the two rival parties, Gandhi said he thought that “love is going to win“.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi used hatred, we (Congress) love. And, I think love is going to win,” he told reporters, soon after exercising his franchise.
Clad in his trademark kurta-pyjama, he was accompanied by party’s New Delhi candidate Ajay Maken on way to the polling booth, a walking distance from his Tughlaq Lane residence.
“There are four issues in this election, these are not our issues but people’s issues. And most important among these is of unemployment. Then, condition of farmers, demonetisation, Gabbar Singh Tax (mocking GST), corruption and the Rafale issue,” he said. - PTI
BJP displays party symbol outside polling booth
AAP, BJP and Congress party workers outside MCD Primary School in New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi
On the day of the polls, BJP workers were seen wearing sashes with party symbol and names at a stall distributing voter slips outside the MCD Primary School polling booth in New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi. According to Election Commission, canvassing within 100 metres is a violation of the rules.
In comparision, workers of Congress and AAP at the same venue were seen using plain caps with no visible symbols.
In photos: Delhi goes to polls
Large-scale vote deletion going on, alleges AAP Minister Kailash Gahlot
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot alleged that there is a large-scale vote deletion going on in Jai Vihar I, Najafgarh in Delhi.
"Voters unable to find their votes at polling booths. It is true that on large scale votes have been deleted,"Mr. Gahlot wrote on Twitter.
Repoll under way in single booth in Kamaraj Nagar segment in Puducherry
Polling is underway in a booth in the repoll in Kamaraj Nagar Assembly segment of Puducherry Parliamentary constituency on Sunday.
Re-polling begins amidst tight security in a polling booth in Kamaraj Nagar in Puducherry in Sunday.
The Election Commission had ordered repoll in the booth following a complaint that officials had not cleared the mock poll votes recorded on the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine.
The mock polling was conducted before the actual election on April 18. A total of 952 voters including 479 women are expected to exercise their franchise at the repoll, official sources said.
TMC, BJP lock horns in West Bengal
Allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and fast in West Bengal polls.
Vishwa Hindu Parishads (VHP) organising secretary in the State Sachindranath Sinha told The Hindu that he was "picked up from his home in Bhagabanpur last night and realeased today morning." The BJP alleged TMC is thus building up pressure.
However, TMC has said that in Jhargram seat, BJP is "creating chaos so that election process is disrupted and thus win. But they know they are losing."
In Kanthi constituency , one TMC supporter's Sudhakar Maity was found dead last night. The party has said that it was an accident death.
Four of TMCs supporters in Belda in West Medinipur have been injured, one with serious injuries. The TMC candidate Manas Bhunia said that "BJP attacked their activists."
BJP alleged one of their booth presidents Ramen Singh in Jhargram was murdered last night.
CM Khattar votes
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar displays his ink marked finger at Prem Nagar polling booth at Karnal city in Haryana on Sunday.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar voted at Prem Nagar polling booth at Karnal city in the State. The CM sportingly took a selfie at the designated 'selfie point' outside the booth after exercising his franchise during the penultimate phase of Lok Sabha elections.
7.67% turnout in first two hours of polling in Delhi
The national capital recorded a turnout of over 7% in the first two hours of polling, with North East Delhi recording the maximum voting percentage among seven constituencies, poll officials said.
“The total turn out in first two hours was 7.67%,” a senior official in the Delhi CEO Office said.
Constituency-wise voter turnout till 9 a.m.
1) Chandni chowk - 6.90%
2) North East Delhi - 8.61%
3) East Delhi - 8.31%
4) New Delhi - 6.48%
5) North West Delhi - 8%
6) West Delhi - 8.33%
7) South Delhi - 7.05%
Atishi votes
AAP candidate from East Delhi Atishi, after casting her vote
What are the issues Delhi voted on?
For border security:
Rajat and Nimisha Arora, after voting in Delhi elections 2019
Rajat and Nimisha Arora, both of whom are professionals associated with the garments export industry, after casting their vote at the Community centre F block DLF Phase 1 in Guragaon.
They said they voted so that “PM Modi could come to power at the Centre, because the security forces at border areas are now given free hand to do whatever they can to protect themselves and India. We feel proud.”
Voting for change:
Nazneen Sheikh, after voting in Delhi elections 2019
Nazneen Sheikh, 27, Nand Nagri resident said that she has voted for change.
"We don't want our money to be spent on statues and gardens. We want the money to be spent on people," she said.
For employment and control in price rise:
Shailender Kumar, a daily wage labourer in Delhi
Shailender Kumar, 60, who lives in B block in New Ashok Nagar, says he is yet to vote as he had to fetch drinking water first.
The daily wage labourer, hailing from Rajasthan, said that there is very less work in the past three-four years and he will vote for employment and against price rise.
Who to vote for?
Sukhrana, an elderly voter, photographed during Delhi elections 2019.
Sukhrana, 80, says that she doesn't know who to vote for. Her daughter or grandson will tell her.
"If you believe me, most old and uneducated women vote like this only," she says, while waiting for them to reach polling station in Nand Nagri.
For strong policies:
Chandra Bhan
Chandra Bhan, a power DISCOM employee, voted at the Govt. Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya on DDU Marg in Delhi.
“I have voted for a strong Govt. at the Centre not because of nationalism but because of its strong policies which I believe are forward-looking,” he said.
A little resigned, but still voting:
Ganesh Chandra
Ganesh Chandra, a central govt employee and Vijaya Lakshmi, housewife, who voted at SDMC primary school in Pushp Vihar says:
“Every time before election some issue or the other gets raked up but the common man’s problems remain the same, about which the political parties don’t do much. Voted because it’s our right and that’s all we can do.”
In pictures: What does Delhi vote for?
Inconveniences galore
Slow queues:
Manoj Kumar Tiwari, photographed outside a polling booth.
Manoj Kumar Tiwari, resident of Nand Nagar and graphic designer by profession, outside a polling booth in the area said he had come at 8 a.m. and the queue isn't moving.
"I want to come in the afternoon but there are other engagements. The process is so slow," he said.
Booth shifted:
Kuldeep Lavania in Gurugram
Ex-serviceman Kuldeep Lavania, Sector 15 Part-2, Gurugram in Haryana, is upset at his booth being shifted to farther place. Earlier his booth was just 200 m from his home. But he said he would still go and cast his vote.
President Kovind votes
President Ram Nath Kovind voted on May 12, 2019 at the polling station in the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, within the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex. Photo: Twitter/@rashtrapatibhvn
President Ram Nath Kovind, the first citizen of the country, exercised his franchise at a voting booth in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Mr. Kovind along with his wife Savita cast his vote at the booth.
This is the first time that Mr. Kovind has exercised his voting right after taking over as the President of India in July 2017.
The Curious Case of Missing Voter Names
In Delhi, stories of voters being unable to find their names in the voter's lists are being reported from across the city. Here are a few:
Capt Ranbir Anand, a retired civil aviation official:
Capt. Ranbir Anand
Capt Anand says: “Came to vote early morning and spent two hours trying to find my name. Though the officials were extremely cooperative, they couldn’t find my name on the list. I have been voting here for the last 40 years. Strangely enough, my tenant’s name is on the list but mine isn’t. I just feel like my right to vote is being snatched away.” (At Don Bosco School, Alaknanda)
K.K. Handa, from Dilshad Garden:
K.K. Handa
K.K. Handa's (79) and his daughter Shalini Handa's (46) names was found deleted from the voter's list at polling station in Dilshad Garden. They said they had been in Bikaner for the last two years but visited the city on and off. They had come to Delhi specifically to cast their vote.
Vimla Devi, Rahul Kumar in New Ashok Nagar:
Vimala Devi and her son Rahul Kumar said they couldn't vote as their names were missing from the voter's list in Delhi
Vimala Devi, 53, and her son Rahul Kumar, 24, said they couldn't vote as their names were missing from the voter's list.
Ms. Devi said she had voted at the same polling station at least three times in the past. However, Devi said her husband's name was there in the list and he is voting, though their address is the same. (Outside MCD Primary School New Ashok Nagar)
TMC members refuse BJP candiate's agent entry to the voting booth
In Ghatal in West Bengal, BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh has been confronted by TMC's women activists. Ms. Ghosh alleged that her agent was not allowed to enter booth.
"I am candidate. I am [being] pushed. They should be arrested," she said. The TMC members said they won't allow Ghosh's agent to enter the booth as BJP members had beaten up their party workers. Ms. Ghosh told the media that the TMC activists tried to confine her in to one booth so that she can't move. "They tried to injure me so that I get confined here," Ms. Ghosh said.
The incident took place in a booth in Medinipur. Meanwhile, Election Commission is looking into an allegation against Ms. Ghosh that she entered the booth with mobile camera. TMC's local leaders are also claiming that Ms. Ghosh is "provoking" the people around the booth.
Some of the cars in Ms. Ghosh's convoy were vandalised. Ms. Ghosh, a former IPS officer, was once close to Mamata Banerjee, but is now her arch rival and BJP's candidate in Ghatal.
"Is the Election Commission blind. It cannot see what is happening," Bharati Ghosh said on the attack.
(Suvojit Bagchi reports from Kolkata)
Sheila Dikshit casts her vote in Delhi
Sheila Dikshit after casting her vote at Nizamuddin in Delhi
Former three-term Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit voted in a polling booth in Delhi's Nizamuddin. She is contesting from North East Delhi parliamentary constituency, along with BJP leader Manoj Tiwari and AAP's Dilip Pandey.
Ruckus in Medinipur constituency in West Bengal
Within the first hour of polling, commotion was reported from Medinipur constituency in West Bengal.
In Rajnikanth Memorial Primary School in Keshiari in Medinipur, one BJP supporter has been arrested for allegedly threatening Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters.
In other parts of the State too, similar incidents were reported with allegations of TMC supporters being attacked by BJP. However, no report of any major incident from other seven seats.
Polling has kicked off in eight constituencies in West Bengal. In 2014, all the seats were bagged by Trinamool Congress (TMC), but the party is facing stiff competition in at least three seats from BJP this year.
More than 15,000 polling stations are being guarded by 770 companies of Central Armed Police Force, highest in any phase so far. Eighty three candidates are in the fray.
(Suvojit Bagchi reports from Kolkata)
Gautam Gambhir among early voters in Delhi
Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir after casting his vote at Old Rajendra Nagar in Delhi
Cricketer and BJP’s East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir was among the early voters in Delhi. He cast his vote at a polling booth in Old Rajinder Nagar, and was accompanied by his wife Natasha Jain.
Mr. Gambhir is contesting against AAP's Atishi and Congress's Arvinder Singh Lovely in East Delhi, and had been caught up in controversy over allegedly defamatory pamphlets distributed in the consitituency that slandered his AAP rival .
Voting begins in all 7 Lok Sabha seats of Delhi
Polling began in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies, with prominent names including former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir in the fray.
Besides Dikshit, who is pitted against BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari (from North East Delhi), BJP’s sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi (New Delhi seat), Olympian boxer Vijender Singh (South Delhi), who is making his electoral debut, and AAP’s Atishi are also trying their luck.
While the BJP, which had won all seven seats in the 2014 polls, is keen to regain the turf, the Congress, that ended up at the third spot in the last Lok Sabha elections, is looking to bounce back. - PTI
Stage set for penultimate phase of Lok Sabha polls
As many as 10.17 crore voters will decide the fate of 979 candidates on Sunday in the fray in the sixth phase of polling in 59 Lok Sabha seats across seven States.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elec tions, the BJP had won as many as 45 of these seats. Voting will be held for 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, eight seats each in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, four seats in Jharkhand, all seven seats in Delhi and all 10 seats in Haryana.
The BJP would not only seek to retain its seats but also expand in newer territories like West Bengal where the Trinamool had won all the eight seats in the last election.
Tough test for the BJP in Haryana
In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP almost swept Haryana riding on the “Modi” wave and an undercurrent of anger against the ruling Congress for alleged regional biases in recruitment and development. For the May 12 election in the State, the voters are, however, set to rate the ruling BJP on its performance and fulfilment of election promises in the State and the Centre.
In 2014, the BJP won seven of the 10 seats and the Indian National Lok Dal two. The Congress retained just the Rohtak seat, won by Deepender Singh Hooda, son of the then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The BJP contested eight seats, while its then ally, the Haryana Janhit Congress, lost the two it contested.
BJP’s U.P. strategy focuses on isolating Yadavs
Bhojpuri film personality Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate against Samjawadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav in this seat that votes on Sunday. The contest here illustrates the BJP’s core strategy for Uttar Pradesh: assimilate or isolate the Yadav community, which has become the fulcrum of a social compact challenging its pre-eminence in Uttar Pradesh under the SP’s alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
“The BJP campaign has focussed on isolating ‘Ahir and Chamar’ (Yadavs and Jatavs, key supporters of the SP and the BSP respectively). Within this, there is a special focus to isolate and target the Yadavs,” said Ramji Yadav, editor of Gaon Ke Log , a progressive Hindi magazine published from Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a candidate.
BJP trying to breach Trinamool’s hold in tribal areas
Sukumar Hansda, chairperson of the Trinamool’s Jhargram unit, refuses to accept that the BJP’s clout is growing in the tribal areas of Bengal. On a late-night phone call, Mr. Hansda said the BJP was not gaining any ground in Jhargram or tribal areas. “We are firmly in control. The BJP is trying all out but they won’t be successful,” he said.
The on-the-ground narrative, however, tells another story.
Will SP’s gamble work in Phulpur?
A.K. Patel is of the view that the BJP has short-changed the Other Backward Class (OBC) community. His list of grievances is long: tampering of reservations, unfilled OBC vacancies, not providing the community representation commiserate with its numbers, upper castes favoured in jobs, and the 10% quota for general classes.
The newly acquired pitch for “social justice” by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also attracts him. However, he may still not vote against the BJP. The SP-BSP alliance, he reasons, is not in a position to form a government at the Centre. But the biggest factor lies somewhere else — caste.
Gwalior: Palace city plays it cool this time
“Can you see any excitement in the city,” asked Subhash Mishra, a security guard from Gwalior, on Friday, just hours before campaigning for the Lok Sabha seat came to a close ahead of voting on Sunday.
“There is no excitement this time,” he said, as he took shelter from the heat under a tree with friends in the Gwalior Fort complex.
Earlier, though, there had been some excitement for Congress and BJP workers. Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in support of the party candidate, Ashok Singh, on Wednesday. And on May 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had campaigned for the BJP’s Vivek Shejwalkar.
