More than 63% polling in third phase, sporadic violence in West Bengal

2024 Lok Sabha elections phase 3: election over in 282 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats; Left Front’s Murshidabad candidate clashes with Trinamool supporters; PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah cast their votes

At least 63.27% of the electorate in 93 constituencies cast their votes on May 7 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election, which has now crossed the halfway mark, with voting complete in 282 out of 543 seats. Apart from sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal, the voting was largely peaceful. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the voters in this phase, with the latter also in the fray.

Though the polling was only till 6 p.m., voters could still be seen queueing at many polling stations, the Election Commission of India said in a statement. “Voters from across 11 States/UTs participated enthusiastically to cast their vote at their polling stations, braving hot weather conditions in some areas,” the ECI statement added. The remaining four phases will take place between May 13 and June 1, with the counting of votes for all seats slated for June 4.

Till 8 p.m., a 56.86% voter turnout was registered in Gujarat, where all of the State’s 26 Lok Sabha seats were in play during this phase, except Surat, where the BJP candidate won unopposed.

Of the 265 candidates in the fray, heavyweights included three Union Cabinet Ministers — Mr. Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala — and one Minister of State Devusinh Chauhan. Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah cast their votes in the Ranip and Naranpura booths respectively, with the Prime Minister also urging voters to cast their ballots and participate in the democratic process.

Constituency-wise polling percentages were only available till 5 p.m., with Valsad district witnessing the highest voter turnout (68.12%), followed by Banaskantha at 64.48%, Chhotaudepur at 63.76%, and Bharuch at 63.56%.

The four seats that went to the polls in West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 73.93%, according to the data available at 8 p.m., with the figures expected to rise. The Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat recorded a 76.49% turnout till 5 p.m., while Jangipur saw a polling percentage of about 72.13%, and Malda Uttar and Malda Dakshin seats saw turnouts of more than 73%. A bypoll for the Bhagwangola Assembly segment saw a polling rate of 73.93%.

Though the polling was largely peaceful, there were instances where the Congress-supported Left Front candidate Mohammad Salim, contesting from the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat, came face-to-face with Trinamool Congress supporters. Mr. Salim alleged that voters were intimidated by TMC supporters and that fake polling agents were made to sit inside polling booths.