From 2019’s 62% to 54.85% now, low turnout a top concern in U.P. FROM MANIPUR TO M’RASHTRA, MILLIONS VOTE
LUCKNOW: Despite the Election Commission’s push, concern over low polling intensified in Uttar Pradesh as the 54.85% turnout recorded in eight parliamentary constituencies in the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election on Friday was 7% less than 62% voting witnessed for the same seats in 2019.
The 60.25% voter turnout for the first phase of polling in eight Lok Sabha constituencies on April 19 was about 6% less than 66.50% voting recorded in 2019.
Low turnout in the first phase prompted political parties to amend their campaign strategy and mobilisegbooth level workers in a bid to get maximum votes polled at the respective booths. The Election Commission also instructed the district returning officers to motivate voters to exercise their franchise. Yet, the voters remained dispassionate about exercising their franchise rights.
Political observers felt the lack of enthusiasm among the voters was due to an increase in the temperature, lack of emotive issues, harvest of crops in the rural areas and disenchantment among grass roots party workers who usually mobilise voters in villages and urban localities to cast their votes.
The decline in voter turnout sparked claims and counterclaims among the political parties.
Immediately after polling concluded at 6pm on Friday, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh and minister of state for cooperation JPS Rathore claimed claiming the voting trends in favour of BJP that commenced in the first phase were further strengthened in the second phase.
Addressing a joint press conference at BJP state unit office, they said voters had made up their mind to ensure that lotus blooms on all the 80 seats of Uttar Pradesh and the Opposition was wiped out in both phases.
In a post on X, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said
NEW DELHI: Millions on Friday voted to elect their Lok Sabha representatives in 88 constituencies across 12 states and one Union Territory, marking the end of the second of the sevenstage polls that saw citizens from strife-torn Manipur to politically crucial Maharashtra and from Jammu to Kerala exercise their franchise.
The provisional turnout stood at over 60% at 5pm, said the Election Commission of India (ECI), adding that it was expected to rise once the final numbers are tallied by the poll watchdog.
The overall turnout in the first and the largest phase, with 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories, has not yet been officially declared but officials have said it stood between 64% and 65%, roughly four percentage points lower than 2019.
The second phase saw 1,202 candidates, including three former chief ministers, in the fray.
With this, voting in 11 states and three UTs is over.
“Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA’s good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA