LIVE UPDATES: Voting for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced on Saturday morning across 58 parliamentary constituencies, spanning six states and two Union Territories (UTs).
Amid stringent security measures and meticulous arrangements, polling stations opened their doors to voters at 7 am and will remain operational until 6 pm.
Before the official commencement of voting, various states conducted mock polls in preparation for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha.
The constituencies involved in this phase encompass a diverse geographical spread, including:
- 8 seats in Bihar
- All 10 seats in Haryana
- 1 seat in Jammu and Kashmir
- 4 in Jharkhand
- All seven seats in Delhi
- 6 in Odisha
- 14 in Uttar Pradesh
- 8 in West Bengal
A total of 889 candidates are in the fray.
Simultaneously, 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha are participating in the electoral process.
The most notable candidates include former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Mehbooba Mufti. Both are contesting from Karnal and Anantnag-Rajouri respectively.
Other prominent figures in the electoral fray comprise Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and several others.
Key battlegrounds in this phase include constituencies such as:
National Capital:
- New Delhi
- North-East Delhi
- North-West Delhi
- Chandni Chowk
Uttar Pradesh:
- Sultanpur
- Azamgarh
The stakes are high for major political parties like the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and others.
In Delhi, AAP and Congress have formed a coalition to challenge the BJP’s dominance, which secured all seven Lok Sabha seats in the previous two elections.
The Election Commission has assured adequate measures for the comfort and security of voters. The ECI has directed officials to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions.
With the completion of polling in 428 parliamentary constituencies across 25 states and UTs in the first five phases, over 11.13 crore voters, including 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female, and 5120 third gender electors, are eligible to cast their ballots in the sixth phase.
Moreover, special provisions have been made for over 8.93 lakh registered voters over the age of 85, 23,659 voters above 100 years, and 9.58 lakh Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to vote from their residences.
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, initially scheduled for May 7, will also hold voting in this phase due to a revised polling date.
The Lok Sabha elections will finish on 1 June after the seventh phase, and they expect to announce the results on 4 June.
