Lok Sabha Elections Phase 3: Voting is being held in 117 parliamentary seats today.
The third and the biggest phase of national elections is being held today in 117 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and two union territories. Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are the seven key states voting today. Polling is being held in all of Gujarat, which has 26 parliamentary constituencies, and Kerala that has 20 Lok Sabha seats.
The party chiefs of two national parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress - are among the key candidates in this phase. BJP chief Amit Shah is contesting from Gujarat's Gandhinagar; he has replaced veteran leader LK Advani. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Kerala's Wayanad, his second seat besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, which is Congress stronghold.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted earlier this morning in Gujarat Ahemdabad's after meeting his 98-year-old mother. "A voter ID is more powerful than the IED (improvised explosive device) of terrorism," PM Modi said as he addressed the reporters after casting his vote. BJP chief Amit Shah accompanied him. LK Advani, Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah are among the other senior party leaders who voted today in Gujarat.
Here are the Highlights of Lok Sabha elections phase 3 voting in key states:
Third Phase Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Total Voter Turnout in different states: Check here
Total voter turnout break-up for different states:
Chattisgarh: 64.02%
Karnataka: 60.42%
Goa: 70.19%
Gujarat: 59%
Dadra And Nagar Haveli: 71.43%
Daman And Diu: 73%
Assam: 74.05%
West Bengal: 78.97%
Tripura: 79.64%
Bihar: 60%
Maharashtra: 62%
Odisha: 64%
Uttar Pradesh: 60.52%
Overall voter turnout: 66%
Lok Sabha Elections 3rd Phase: Estimated voter turnout till now for third phase of Lok Sabha polls is 61.31%: news agency ANI
Estimated voter turnout till now for the 3rd phase of the Lok Sabha Elections is 61.31%. Voting for 116 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and 2 union territories is being held today, reported news agency ANI.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 57.63% voter turnout registered in two Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa till 3 pm
As much as 57.63 per cent voter turnout was registered in the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa till 3 pm, election authorities said, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
Long queues were seen outside several polling centres.
As per the data released by the Chief Electoral Officer, North Goa constituency witnessed 58.31 per cent polling by 3 pm while South Goa registered 56.93 per cent turnout, according to PTI.
By-elections are also being held for three Assembly constituencies in the coastal state Tuesday.
Mapusa Assembly constituency witnessed 56.28 per cent polling by 3 pm, Shiroda witnessed 61.39 per cent while Mandrem registered a high 64.91 per cent turnout, said a PTI report.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his wife were among the early voters. Governor Mridula Sinha and her husband also cast their votes in the morning in Dona Paula area.
Congress candidate from North Goa Lok Sabha seat Girish Chodankar and BJP nominee and sitting MP Shripad Naik exercised their franchise early in the day.
Elections 2019: Poll official dies during duty in Odisha: news agency IANS
A polling official passed away while on duty in Dhenkanal district of Odisha on Tuesday, reported news agency IANS.
Nabakishore Nayak collapsed inside booth number 41 in Kantapal village under the Parjang Assembly segment of Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency. He was declared dead by doctors at Kamakhyanagar hospital, said sources, according to IANS.
However, the Chief Electoral Officer's office here said they were yet to receive any report regarding the tragedy.
Election 2019: Karnataka registers 36.61% voter turnout till 1 pm, highest turnout in Shivamogga
Karnataka registered 36.61 per cent voter turnout during the first half of second phase of polling for the remaining 14 out of total 28 Lok Sabha constituencies Tuesday, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
The highest turnout was recorded in Shivamogga with 41.66 per cent and the lowest in Gulbarga with 30.48 per cent till 1PM, poll officials said, according to PTI.
Interestingly, both Shivamogga and Gulbarga are high profile constituencies.
In Shivamogga, former Chief Minister and state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa's son BY Raghavendra is pitted against another former Chief Minister S Bangarappa's son Madhu of JD(S).
BJP workers thrash NCP worker at Sub-divisional Magistrate's office in Bhopal: news agency ANI
In Madhya Pradesh, BJP workers allegedly thrashed an NCP worker at Sub-divisional Magistrate's office in Bhopal after he allegedly showed black flags to Pragya Thakur, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, during her roadshow, reported news agency ANI.
Ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Votes In Dispur
In Third Phase, Wayanad Is One Of The Most Watched SeatsIn the third and biggest round of voting for the Lok Sabha election, the seat in the spotlight is Wayanad in Kerala, from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting. The Congress president is contesting from a second seat, apart from his traditional Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, for the first time. Read the full story
here.
NDA Will Form Government At Centre, Says Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut today said NDA government will form government at the centre. "In the Lok Sabha elections, there are three main alliances contesting this time. There is United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-led by Congress, then there is Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of SP-BSP and RLD and the third is NDA-led by BJP," Mr Raut said.
A 10-Year-Old Drags His Grandparents To Polling Booth In UP To Vote
Mehbooba Mufti Votes In J&K's Anantnag
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool in a complaint to the Election Commission has alleged that the security forces are influencing polling in West Bengal's Malda
Earlier today, three Trinamool workers were injured when a crude bomb was thrown at them in Murshidabad.
Voter Turnout At 1pm - Assam 46.6
- Bihar 33.8
- Chhattisgarh 43.0
- Gujarat 39.3
- Jammu & Kashmir: 9.7
- Karnataka: 36.7
- Kerala: 38.8
- Maharashtra: 35.7
- Odisha: 34.0
- Uttar Pradesh: 35.5
- West Bengal: 51.0
- Tripura: 50.63
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli: 43.1
- Daman & Diu: 43.0
- Goa: 45.1
Rahul Gandhi Promises 22 Lakh Jobs In One Year Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Dungarpur, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi promised 22 lakh jobs in a year.
Video: Independent Candidate From Bihar's Madhepura Sings A Bollywood Song
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Casts His Vote In Gujarat's Ahmedabad
Sharad Yadav Contesting From Bihar's Madhepura On RJD Ticket Casts His Vote
Complaints of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines have been pouring in from several states including parts of Kerala, Assam and Uttar Pradesh. Polling is being held in 117 seats across 13 states and two Union Territories.
"Like My Father....": Actor Sunny Deol Joins BJP
Popular actor Sunny Deol joined the BJP today in presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Piyush Goyal. "Like my father joined Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I have decided to go with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I want PM Modi for the next five years," said the actor in a short speech," Sunny Deol said in a short speech after joining the party. Read here.
BJP's veteran leader LK Advani votes at a polling booth at Shahpur Hindi School in Ahmedabad.
Who Are The Key Candidates In Your Constituency In the third phase of national elections, the biggest phase of the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Yadav, SP's Azam Khan are among the key contenders. Take a look at the full list of candidates
here.
A Look At Key Contenders In UP In 3rd Phase
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala denied reports of technical glitches in voting machines in a booth in Kovalam that falls under the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, news agency ANI reported.
CEO Teeka Ram Meena on Tuesday clarified that news about every vote cast against the hand symbol of Congress was showing lotus symbol on EVM at booth number 151 in Kovalam is false. "There is a piece of false news spreading that 151 polling booth in Kovalam that every vote is being cast for lotus. Every media is carrying the news similar to the one that happened in Andhra Pradesh (AP). We double checked and no such thing is happening," the CEO said.
Here's The Voting Turnout At 11 AM Among the larger states polling today, while Assam recorded a voting turnout of 28.6 per cent, Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voting turnout of just 4.7 per cent at 11 am.
Here's a voting turnout of other states
- Assam- 28.6
- Bihar- 19.4
- Chhatisgarh- 27.3
- Gujarat- 24.9
- Jammu and Kashmir- 4.7
- Karnataka- 20.7
- Maharashtra- 21.4
- Kerala- 22.2
- Odisha- 18.4
- Uttar Pradesh- 22.6
- West Bengal- 34.9
Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel Votes In Durg
Criminal Negligence For Polling Exercise, Tweets Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged in a tweet that voting machines across India are either malfunctioning or voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "EVMs across India malfunctioning or voting for the BJP. DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs 50,000 crs," Mr Yadav tweeted.
Criminal Negligence For Polling Exercise, Tweets Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged in a tweet that voting machines across India are either malfunctioning or voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "EVMs across India malfunctioning or voting for the BJP. DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs 50,000 crs," Mr Yadav tweeted.
All Voting Machines Replaced At South Goa Polling Booth All voting machines have been replaced at a polling station in Cuncolim Assembly constituency in South Goa have been replaced after reports of malfunctioning, Goa Chief Electoral Officer Kunal said on Tuesday.
"Entire set of EVMs has been replaced for Assembly constituency 34 (Cuncolim), polling station number 31, as per report from the district election officer South Goa," Mr Kunal was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge Cast Vote
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Votes
BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan Votes In Thiruvananthapuram
BJP Workers Allegedly Beat A Poll Official In UP
Anna Hazare Casts His Vote In Maharashtra's Ahmednagar
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in an appeal to the Anantnag voters tweeted: "To the voters of Anantnag, please don't reward the death, destruction & deceit of the last 4 years by staying home & boycotting the election. Come out & vote to
give your anger a voice. Vote for the best candidate in the field, vote for @masoodi_hasnain. (sic)." Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is PDP's face in Anantnag, which votes in three phases.
This is the first time that voting is being held in a parliamentary constituency in J&K in three phases. The constituency, spread over four districts of south Kashmir, is considered a huge security challenge and more than 30,000 security personnel have been deployed for today's polling
"A Bit Too Much": Congress's Shashi Tharoor On EVM Malfunction "I understand machine malfunction can happen, but I am curious that always such malfunction seems to be benefiting the lots recently. That is a bit too much. I am glad the machines have been replaced," says Shashi Tharoor as voting machines malfunction in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram
Here's The Voting Turnout Till 9 Am
PM Modi's Mother Votes In Ahmedabad
Here Are The Seats Voting In The Third Phase Of National Elections117 constituencies in 13 states and two union territories are polling today. States which are voting in Phase 3 Lok Sabha Elections are: Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Union Territories Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Read
here 3 Injured In Poll-Related Violence In Bengal's Malda, Claims Congress
In West Bengal's Malda, poll-related violence injured three, claimed Congress. A bomb was thrown at a camp office, the party alleged.
The High-Stake Battle In Karnataka: Highlights - The BJP, having a considerable presence in the southern state, aims to improve its tally banking on the ''Modi wave'' and the support of dominant Lingayat community, considered its vote base
- Congress and JD(S) have again teamed up for national elections. Their performance is likely to have a bearing on the coalition government headed by HD Kumaraswamy
- A key constituency is Gulbarga, where Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, a nine-time MLA and two-term Lok Sabha member who has never tasted electoral defeat. BJP has fielded Umesh Jadhav, who recently quit Congress
- Of the 14 constituencies going to polls, the BJP is contesting in all the seats while the Congress and the JD(S) have fielded candidates in 12 and two constituencies respectively as per the seat sharing arrangement
Here's What Makes Phase 3 Biggest in Seven Phased Lok Sabha Elections
BJP chief Amit Shah Votes In Ahmedabad BJP chief Amit Shah casts his vote in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. His candidature from Gandhinagar, announced in party's first list last month, had sparked a major controversy; he had replaced veteran leader LK Advani.
EVM Malfunctioning In Assam, Four Lok Sabha Seats Voting Today- EVM malfunctioning has been reported from several polling booths in Assam
- Polling process has been delayed due to change of EVM
- Four parliamentary constituencies in the state are polling today
- 17 candidates are contesting in Guwahati, 15 in Dhubri, 13 in Barpeta and nine in Kokrajhar
In UP's Pilbhit, BJP's Varun Gandhi Reminds Voters Of Family Connection During Poll CampaignPilibhit, one of the ten constituencies in UP which vote today, has been the stronghold of Varun Gandhi's mother Maneka Gandhi, who has been elected as a lawmaker from there six times since 1989. But this time, her son is contesting. Will he win? Read
here 
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Votes In RajkotGujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani reached a polling booth in Rajkot this morning to cast his vote. His wife accompanied him.
Supriya Sule, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar's Daughter, Casts Vote In Maharashtra's Baramati
Polling Begins In Ten Seats In Uttar Pradesh: What You Should Know - Ten seats of Uttar Pradesh, where polls are being held today, will decide the electoral fortunes of several key leaders, including Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh, his nephews Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav, senior party leader Azam Khan and the BJP's Jaya Prada
- The BJP had won seven of the 10 seats in 2014, while the SP bagged three
- A total of 1.78 crore voters would would choose from 120 candidates contesting in Muradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Ferozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Aonwla, Bareilly and Pilibhit
- Polling will be held in these booths between 7 am and 6 pm
Polling Begins In Ten Seats In Uttar Pradesh: What You Should Know - Ten seats of Uttar Pradesh, where polls are being held today, will decide the electoral fortunes of several key leaders, including Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh, his nephews Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav, senior party leader Azam Khan and the BJP's Jaya Prada
- The BJP had won seven of the 10 seats in 2014, while the SP bagged three
- A total of 1.78 crore voters would would choose from 120 candidates contesting in Muradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Ferozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Aonwla, Bareilly and Pilibhit
- Polling will be held in these booths between 7 am and 6 pm
Watch: PM Modi Talks To Reporters After Casting His Vote
In Bihar, Voting Begins In Five Lok Sabha Seats In Bihar, voting began in five Lok Sabha seats
- Technical glitches reportedly delayed the polling process in Khagaria, Madhepuea and Araria, which will see over 88 lakh voters deciding the fate of 82 candidates, along with Supaul and Jhanjharpur -- all of which are in Koshi and Seemanchal region, news agency IANS reported
- Prominent candidates contesting in Bihar are Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Sharad Yadav from Madhepura seat, who has been fielded against Pappu Yadav. Congress's Ranjeet Ranjan is contesting from Supaul, while the main contestant from Araria is RJD's Sarfaraz Alam; and LJP's Mahboob Ali Qaiser is from Khagaria seat, whose main contestant is VIP chief Mukesh Shahni
Fortunate To Cast My Vote, Says PM Modi: Highlights PM Narendra Modi appeals to first-time voters as he addresses media after casting vote in Ranip, Ahmedabad. "Voter id is stronger than IED," he says-
Highlights of his address to media:
- "I am fortunate to cast my vote... Everyone must vote for a bright future," says PM Modi
- "Voter Id is stronger than IED, the weapon of a terrorist," he says
- After voting, I feel as blessed as I would after taking a holy dip
- The electorate in India is wise. They know the reality on the ground. They have seen and know what has been done.
"Executed My Right To Vote," Tweets BS Yeddyurappa
PM Modi Casts His Vote In Ahmedabad - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after meeting his mother, casts his vote in Gujarat's Ahmedabad
- BJP chief Amit Shah accompanied him
- He was seen interacting with people outside the polling booth
PM Modi Meets His Mother In Gujarat
PM Modi meets his mother at her residence in Gujarat's Gandhinagar before he casts his vote
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Arrives To Cast His Vote
Participate In The Festival Of Democracy, Tweets BS Yeddyurappa; Visits Temple Ex-Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa visited a temple this morning before the voting for third phase began in 14 parliamentary seats of the state. "Participate in the festival of democracy," he later tweeted.
Amit Shah Arrives At Polling Booth To Cast VoteBJP President and party's candidate from Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency Amit Shah will vote shortly. He arrived at the polling booth at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ranip, Ahmedabad, this morning, news agency ANI reported. Amit Shah replacing party veteran LK Advani from Gandhinagar had sparked controversy sparking sharp political reactions.
BY Raghavendra, BS Yeddyurappa's Son Casts His Vote In Karnataka's Shimoga
Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's son reached a polling booth in Karnataka's Shimoga this morning to cast his vote. He is the BJP's candidate in the parliamentary constituency contesting against Janata Dal Secular candidate Madhu Bangarappa, son of the late S Bangarappa, ex-Karnataka chief minister
PM Modi Arrives At His Mother's Residence In Gujarat's Gandhinagar
Before he votes in the third phase of national elections, PM Modi arrives at his mother's residence in Gandhinagar, where BJP president Amit Shah is the party candidate this time
"Your Vote In Precious," Tweets PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people across the country to "vote in record numbers" in phase 3 of general elections. He will be voting shortly from his home state, Gujarat, shortly, he said. PM Modi will vote from Ahmedabad.
Early Risers Queue Up Outside Polling Booth In Wayanad, Kerala Voters queue up outside a polling booth in Kalpetta in Kerala's Wayanad where Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting for the first time.
Phase 3 Voting Key States: Maharashtra, Karnataka Also Vote Today
Among the key states voting today are also Maharashtra and Karnataka. In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is contesting against the Congress-NCP alliance. 14 parliamentary seats in the state are voting here in the third phase. In Karnataka, where Congress and the JDS teamed up to form a government after a hung assembly last year, the BJP will give their alliance a tough fight.14 constituencies poll here.