An estimated 62.84 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Monday in the fourth phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections in 96 constituencies spread across 10 States and Union Territories.
The voting in 1.92 lakh polling stations that commenced amid tight security at 7 am concluded at 6 pm. The polling was reported to be by and large peaceful.
Of the 96 Lok Sabha seats in the fourth phase, 25 were from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Telangana, 13 from Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, eight each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five from Bihar, four each from Jharkhand and Odisha and one from Jammu and Kashmir.
With this, the fate of 1,717 candidates was sealed in EVMs. Prominent among the candidates from the BJP are Union Ministers, Girijaj Singh (Begusarai, Bihar), G Kishan Reddy (Secunderabad, Telangana), and Madhavi Latha (Hyderabad, Telangana), while from Congress are its Leader of the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur, West Bengal) and party’s Andhra Pradesh chief YS Sharmila (Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh).
Other key contenders in the fourth phase include Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (Kannauj), AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (Hyderabad) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra (Krishnanagar, West Bengal).
According to the data issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), West Bengal recorded 75.94 per cent turnout, Madhya Pradesh 68.63 per cent and Andhra Pradesh 68.12 per cent.
Uttar Pradesh registered a 57.88 per cent turnout.
Elections also took place for all 175 seats of Andhra Pradesh Assembly and 28 seats of the Odisha Legislative Assembly simultaneously in the fourth phase on Monday.
As per the voter turnout app, Andhra Pradesh recorded 68.04 per cent polling and Odisha 63.85 per cent in the first phase of Assembly polls.
For the convenience of voters, the poll panel made arrangements for assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, and wheelchairs.
The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases between 19th April and 1st June. The first phase of polling was held on 19th April, the second phase on 26th April, and the third phase on 7th May. The first phase recorded 66.14 per cent voter turnout, the second 66.71 per cent, and the third phase 65.68 per cent.
The results will be declared on 4th June.