Nearly 700 candidates are contesting for the 51 seats in phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2019
At least 63.5 per cent of the 8.75 crore voters in the 51 seats across the seven states have exercised their franchise in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha election, which is the lowest in all the phases so far, Election Commission data shows. According to the Commission's Voter Turnout android application, at 9.00 PM, the turnout in the Monday's polling was 63.5 per cent. This phase, the leanest with polling on 51 seats, was marked by violence in parts of Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. In Bengal, two persons, including a BJP candidate, were injured in separate incidents. A grenade was thrown at a polling booth and an explosion set off elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.
The Ladakh constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, which went to polls Monday, recorded a turnout of 71.10 per cent at 10 PM as per the EC app. In 2014, the turnout was nearly the same at 71.9 per cent.
Nearly 700 candidates are contesting for the 51 seats spread across seven states in phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 today. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and six union ministers are some of the prominent candidates whose fate will be decided by over 8 crore voters in the seven states.
While 149 candidates have been fielded by national parties, 31 are representing state parties, and 252 candidates are contesting independently, Association for Democratic Reforms said.
Here are the Highlights on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Phase 5 voting:
Phase 5 of Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Election in Odisha's Patkura postponed
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday decided to postpone the elections in Patkura assembly constituency in Odisha in the view of cyclone ''Fani''.
The polling could not take place in Patkura constituency on April 24 as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla passed away on April 20.
Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI: "The Election Commission of India vide their notification dated April 24 had fixed May 19 as the date of polling in respect of Patkura Assembly Constituency after the death of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla."
"Now, in view of the serious devastation caused by ''Fani'' Cyclone, the ECI has decided to extend the completion of the elections in 96-Patkura AC for 60 days. The date of polling will be suitably decided after assessing local situation," CEO Odisha said.
Phase 5 of Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Total overall voter turnout for phase 5 of the 2019 elections is 62.56%
The overall voter turnout for Phase 5 of the elections is 62.56%.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 57.33% voter turnout recorded in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh records total voter turnout of 57.33% for phase 5 of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 57.86% voter turnout recorded in Bihar
Bihar recorded a total voter turnout of 57.86% for phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: West Bengal records total voter turnout of 73.97%
West Bengal has recorded a total voter turnout of 73.97% in phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 5 of Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Jharkhand records voter turnout of 63.72%
Jharkhand records voter turnout of 63.72% for phase 5 of the 2019 elections.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Madhya Pradesh voter turnout is 62.60%
Voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh is 62.60% for phase 5 in Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections: Total voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir is 2.81%
Total voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir for Phase 5 of the national elections is 2.81%
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Rajasthan records 63.75% voter turnout
Rajasthan has recorded a total voter turnout of 63.75% in Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 3% voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag
Clashes erupted at many places on Monday between mobs and security forces after the elections ended in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat with a dismal voter turnout of 3 per cent, reported news agency IANS.
The turnout in the third and final phase of polling in Anantnag constituency is the lowest in Jammu and Kashmir in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
But the Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency saw a 51.9 per cent voter turnout. The overall voter turnout in both Anantnag and Ladakh constituencies was 15.2 per cent, reported IANS.
Phase 5: Over 53% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in 14 Lok Sabha seats
Over 53 per cent voter turnout was recorded Monday till 5 pm in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, reported news agency PTI, where Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi are in the fray.
Among early voters in the state capital included Home Minister Singh, BSP supremo Mayawati, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, DGP OP Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar.
Election Commission of India officials here said polling was going on smoothly, barring some complaints of EVM malfunctioning which were attended to immediately, reported PTI.
Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's Amethi candidate Irani alleged that the Congress president was "ensuring booth capturing" in the constituency.
About 59% voting till 5 pm in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan - About 59 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm Monday in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where two former Olympians are among the 134 candidates in the fray
- The maximum voter turnout of 68.89 per cent was recorded in the Ganganagar (SC) seat
- Jaipur, Churu and Alwar recorded 63.89 per cent, 61.21 per cent and 60.99 cent polling, respectively, according to the website of the chief electoral officer of Rajasthan
Bihar, 32.2 per cent people voted till 1 pm.
11.4 per cent people voted in Jammu and Kashmir till 1 pm.
Jharkhand saw voter turnout of 44.3 per cent till 1 pm
A voter turnout of 50 per cent was recorded till 3 pm on Monday in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where two former Olympians are among the 134 candidates in the fray.
35.4 per cent people voted in Uttar Pradesh till 1 pm. In Bengal, 50.6 per cent people voted till 1 pm.
Over all poll percentage till 3 pm in Jammu and Kashmir is 15.64%, news agency ANI has reported.
A Trinamool Congress worker in Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency claims he was attacked while he was returning after voting.
Violence in Barrackpore mar phase 5 polling in West Bengal
Violence was reported from Barrackpore, Bangaon, Howrah and Hooghly constituencies. "There have been some stray incidents of violence from a few places. We have taken immediate steps," a senior
election official here said.
A scuffle between Barrackpore seat's BJP candidate Arjun Singh and central forces was reported when the former TMC MLA tried to enter a booth following allegations that voters were not being allowed to exercise their franchise there, the official said.
"Our agents were not allowed inside booths. People were not allowed to vote properly and I went there to have a look. I have the right to enter booths but police stopped me and hit me," Mr Singh told news agency PTI.
Alleging that the police are not doing anything to stop rigging in some booths of Barrackpore seat, Mr Singh demanded that polling be stopped and re-polling ordered.
The maximum number of "sensitive" booths in Monday's elections is in Barrackpore seat where TMC sitting MP Dinesh Trivedi has been pitted against Singh, who switched over to the BJP recently after he was denied a ticket by party supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Rajyavardhan Rathore poses with family after casting vote in phase 5 elections
Two Olympians, a former IAS officer and a former IPS officer are among the candidates whose fate will be decided by voters.
Jaipur rural, Bikaner, Dausa, Alwar are some of the keenly watched constituencies among the 12 seats.
Former Olympians Rajyavardhan Rathore, union minister of state, and Krishna Poonia are in contest in Jaipur rural constituency.
While the sitting MP Rathore is banking on the Modi factor and highlighted national security as the key issue, Congress MLA Poonia questioned works done by Rathore.
The seat, which Rathore won with a margin of 3.32 lakh votes in 2014, is dominated by Jat community, a caste to which Poonia belongs.
Phase 5 Election 2019: 24.2 per cent voter turnout till 11 am
24.2 per cent of the 8.75 crore voters in the 51 seats across the seven states have exercised their franchise till 11 am. West Bengal witnessed an impressive voter turnout with 32.7 per cent of the electorates in the seven seats having exercised their franchise.
Jharkhand and Rajasthan also recorded good turnout with over 29 per cent of the electorates in the seats voting in these states braving the summer heat and exercising their franchise. Only 6.1 per cent of the electorates in Jammu and Kashmir have voted so far.
5th Phase Voting: Raebareli constituency
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is up against Congress turncoat and BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli.
The BJP is trying to project the polls in Raebareli -- one of the country's most high-profile constituencies, as a contest between ''parivarvaad'' (dynastic politics) of the Congress and development.
Top BJP leaders, including party president Amit Shah, have campaigned for Dinesh Singh, a local strongman, who was chosen over Ajay Agarwal, a Supreme Court lawyer, who had unsuccessfully contested from the seat in in the 2014 general election.
Mr Singh, who joined the BJP last year, dubbed the Congress a "private limited company" of the first family. "I quit the Congress because it was serving only the interests of one family and not the nation. It has become a private limited company of the Gandhis," Mr Singh was quoted by news agency PTI.
Mrs Gandhi has only visited Rae Bareli -- a seat she has held since 2004 -- twice this polling season -- first to file her nomination papers and second on May 2, when she addressed a rally and attacked the BJP for making false promises.
A voter in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur voted after his father's last rites earlier today.
BJP heavyweight Rajnath Singh is contesting against joint SP-BSP-RLD candidate Poonam Sinha from Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow
The union minister won the seat by over 2.7 lakh votes in 2014.
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: BJP leader Smriti Irani alleges booth capturing in Amethi
BJP leader Smriti Irani, who is contesting against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, has alleged that voters in the constituency are forcefully being made to voter for the Congress leader. Ms Irani tweeted a video of a voter alleging that the presiding officer in a polling booth in Gauriganj forcing her to vote for Congress.
A voter posing for camer with her inked finger at a polling booth in Bihar's Muzaffarpur.
5th Phase Voting: Trinamool Congress alleges BJP candidate influencing voters, complains to Election Commission
Trinammol Congress has written to the Election Commission alleging that the Arjun Singh, the BJP candidate from West Bengal's Barrackpore, is trying to influence voters.
Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: Jayant Sinha is seeking re-election from Hazaribagh
Civil Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha is seeking re-election from the Hazaribagh constituency as a BJP candidate. He is up against Congress candidate Gopal Sahu and two-time MP and CPI's Jharkhand unit secretary BP Mehta in the seat.
Mr Sinha has maintained that he did not face any challenge from the grand alliance candidate while asserting that his father's blessings are always with him.
Jayant Sinha's father Yashwant Sinha is a former BJP leader who has lately been a vocal critic of the party's policies.
Jayant Sinha was elected to the Lok sabha first time in 2014. Previously, Hazaribagh was represented by his father Yashwant Sinha.
With only 51 seats across seven states where voting is being held, this is the leanest phase of the election.
Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: Grenade attack on polling station in Pulwama
Terrorists threw a grenade towards a polling station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where polling is underway for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said.
A grenade was lobbed towards Rahmoo polling station in Pulwama but there were no reports of any casualties in the the blast, a police official said.
This was the first terrorist attack on a polling station in this Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir.
Polling is being held in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency which also includes Anantnag and Kulgam districts as well.
The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons.
Anantnag district went to polls on 23 April, while voting in Kulgam district took place on 29 April.
There are 18 candidates in the fray for Anantnag constituency including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti.
Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: Voters in MP village boycott polls
Voters in a village in Betul, a district in Madhya Pradesh, have boycotted voting. People in Newralondu village said they are upset of water shortage.
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: 105-year-old casts vote at a polling booth in Hazaribagh
A man carries his 105-year-old mother to cast vote at a polling booth in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. Union minister Jayant Sinha is contesting against Congress' Gopal Sahu and CPI's Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta from the constituency.
Voters show their inked finger after casting their vote in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh.
Phase 5 Election 2019: Grenade attack at polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama
A grenade was thrown at a polling booth in Rahmoo in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, where polling is being held as part of the third phase of polling for Anantnag constituency. No one was injured in the incident.
This is the first such attack in this elections.
5th Phase Voting: BJP candidate attacked allegedly by Trinamool workers in Bengal
BJP's Barrackpore candidate Arjun Singh was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress workers shortly after he voted. "I was attacked by TMC goons who have been brought from outside. Those people were scaring away our voters. I am injured," he told news agency ANI.
Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: 14 seats in UP are voting today
In Uttar Pradesh - the state that sends the largest numbers of members to Lok Sabha, polling will be held in 14 seats. Twelve seats in Rajasthan, seven seats each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four in Jharkhand and two seats in Jammu and Kashmir will also go to polls today.
Of these - Ladakh (Jammu & Kashmir), Satna (Madhya Pradesh), Madhubani (Bihar), Karauli-Dholpur (Rajasthan) and Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh), are some of the constituencies the BJP had narrowly won in 2014 with less than five per cent vote margin.
Visuals from a polling booth in Khrew area of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. Shopian and Pulwama, the worst hit by violence areas of Kashmir, are polling today as part of the third phase of polling for Anantnag constituency. Two school buildings that were designated as polling booths have been set on fire in Shopian.
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 5 Voting: "Use your voting right wisely," says Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati voted at a polling booth in UP's Lucknow this morning. She appealed to the people to "use their voting rights wisely". "Every voter should use the right to vote wisely. Everybody should get out of their homes to cast their votes," she said.
Phase 5 Election 2019: Voting yet to begin in two polling booths in Raebareli and one in Amethi
Voting is yet to begin in two polling booths in Raebareli and one in Amethi. Both Raebareli and Amethi seats are held by the Gandhis. While Congress president Rahul Gandhi is seeking a fourth term from Amethi, his mother and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, is a parliamentarian from Raebareli, a seat she has held since 2004.
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Live Updates: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore vs Krishna Poonia in Jaipur Rural
Two former Olympians -- Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Krishna Poonia -- are contesting in the seat.
On her contest against Mr Rathore, Krishna Poonia had said last month that "it is a fight to save democracy". "Our fight is not that of athletes. This is a fight to save democracy. There is a need to take up the issues of the youth, farmers and women," she told NDTV. "The BJP only makes promises.... When the nation's money was being looted, why were the chowkidars (watchmen) sleeping?" she had said.
Krishna Poonia is contesting as a Congress candidate. She had won last year's Rajasthan assembly election from Sadulpur after a loss in the previous election.
Krishna Poonia became the first Indian woman track-and-field athlete to win a gold medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Rajyavardhan Rathore, on the other hand, has won 25 medals at various international championships. He won a silver medal for India at the 2004 Athens Olympics and gold at the Commonwealth Games at Manchester in 2002 and Melbourne in 2006.
Both the candidates entered politics in 2013.
General Elections 2019: Rajnath Singh among early voters in Lucknow
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is seeking a re-election from Lucknow, was among the early voters who exercised their vote in the constituency.
"I leave the decision on the voters. They have the full right to choose who they want. BJP will get full majority and PM Modi only will become the next prime minister.
Phase 5 live updates: 2 polling booths set on fire in Shopian
Two school buildings that were designated as polling booths have been set on fire in Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir. Shopian and Pulwama, the worst hit by violence areas of Kashmir, are polling today as part of the third phase of polling for Anantnag constituency.
Lok Sabha Polls 2019 Phase 5 Live Updates: Yashwant Sinha among early voters in Hazaribagh
Former union minister Yashwant Sinha with wife Nilima Sinha at a polling booth in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. His son and union minister Jayant Sinha is contesting against Congress' Gopal Sahu and CPI's Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta from the constituency.
BJP's Barrackpore candidate Arjun Singh casts vote.
Lok Sabha Elections: "Contribute to India’s better future, tweets PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to people to turnout in record numbers to cast their votes for the 51 seats that are voting today.
"A vote is the most effective way to enrich our democracy and contribute to India's better future," PM Modi tweeted.
Voting begins in 51 seats across seven states for phase 5 of Lok Sabha Elections.
Lok Sabha Polls 2019 live updates: 7 Lok Sabha constituencies voting today in West Bengal
Voters queue up outside a polling station in Barrackpore, West Bengal. The ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and Left Front constituent CPI(M) are the main contenders in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies spread across three districts in the state.
Lok Sabha Election Phase 5: This is the leanest phase of the seven-phase election
Only 51 seats across seven states are voting today. This is the leanest phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha election.
Polling officials at a booth in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is up against Pramod Krishnam of the Congress party. Poonam Sinha, wife of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha is SP-BSP-RLD's candidate for the Lok Sabha constituency.
Rahul Gandhi vs Smriti Irani in Amethi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is seeking a re-election from Amethi, , which he has been representing since 2004. He has been once again challenged by BJP's Smriti Irani in the seat.
Mr Gandhi had defeated Smriti Irani in the 2014 national polls, but his victory margin was substantially reduced from more than three lakhs in 2009 to just over one lakh in 2014.
Recently, Mr Gandhi wrote a letter to his ''Amethi family'' urging the people to vote him back as their MP. The Congress leader has promised to push schemes for the region that were stalled by the BJP.
Ms Irani, however, is confident of her victory in the eastern Uttar Pradesh seat. "People of Amethi want change. They want development and they will vote for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi," she said.
Rahul Gandhi has been representing Amethi in Parliament since 2004. Before him, it was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi.e held on May 12 and 19.
Lok Sabha elections 2019: With this round, election will be completed in 424 seats
With this round, election will be completed in 424 seats, polling on the remaining 118 seats will be held on May 12 and 19.
A number of high-profile candidates, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and six union ministers are contesting in this phase.