Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE Updates: 62.31% Turnout Till 5PM in Phase 4, Case Filed Against YSRCP MLA Who Slapped Voter
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voting LIVE Updates: Stay with The Quint for all the latest news on Phase 4 polling.
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE Updates: Polling for the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am on Monday, 13 May, with 1,717 candidates contesting in 96 constituencies across 10 states and union territories.
The fourth phase was marred by reports of poll violence in Andhra Pradesh even as videos of UP's Lakhimpur Kheri voters alleging "EVM fraud" flooded social media.
These include 25 constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and 17 constituencies in Telangana which are voting in a single phase, along with some constituencies in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the key candidates who are in fray are Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj, Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad, and Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Berhampore.
Over 17.70 crore voters, including 8.97 crore men and 8.73 crore women electors, are eligible to cast their votes in Phase 4.
17 seats in Telangana will complete polling in a single phase.
Andhra Pradesh voters will also be casting their ballots in the legislative Assembly elections on Monday.
Srinagar is witnessing a triangular fight between J&K National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party.
TMC's Mahua Moitra is up against BJP’s Amrita Roy from Krishnagar in West Bengal.
In Baharampur, Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is up against former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan contesting on a TMC ticket.
Former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known by his initials KCR, casts his vote.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, his son and party Vice President Omar Abdullah and grandsons Zamir Abdullah and Zahir Abdullah show their ink marked fingers after casting their votes at a polling booth in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi shows his inked finger along with his family members after casting his vote at Vattapally polling station during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy casts his vote.
People wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir
Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy shows his inked finger after casting his vote along with his family members and relatives at a polling station during fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his family members show inked fingers after casting votes at a polling station during fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls.
Enthusiasm was seen among the voters in the fourth phase of voting in Ujiarpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Early morning electors queue at Model polling station (Jalangi Bhavan) Krishnanagar, Nadia district West Bengal.
People wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
People wait in queues to cast their votes at a polling station during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Khunti, Jharkhand.
In Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh, aware voters reached the polling booth and long queues were seen to vote
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav with family members shows his inked finger after casting his vote during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Voters show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their votes during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
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Voter Turnout So Far...
The first, second, and third phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a dip in the voter turnout as compared to 2019 general election.
As per data by the Election Commission of India (ECI) phase 1 saw a turnout of 66.1 percent, while phase 2 and three saw 66.7 and 65.68 percent turnout respectively.
In UP, 13 Seats Will Vote Today
Out of 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, 13 will vote in the fourth phase of the elections. Watch The Quint's ground report from Lakhimpur Kheri where BJP's Ajay Mishra Teni is fighting against Samajwadi Party's Utkarsh Verma and Bahujan Samaj Party's Anshay Kalra.
In October 2021, when four Sikh farmers and a journalist were run over by an SUV in the Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri. The car was owned by Ajay Mishra Teni, and his son is an accused in the case.
'Which Way Will Aurangabad Sway?': Badi Badi Baatein with MP Imtiaz Jaleel
In 2019, Jaleel's victory in the constituency, with a very close margin of over 4,000 votes, came as a surprise to many. He became the only Lok Sabha MP from his party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to win other than party chief Asaduddin Owaisi who won Hyderabad.
He also became the first Muslim MP to win from the constituency in 40 years.
This time, however, the battle is tougher with the Shiv Sena split making it a three-way fight between Jaleel, Khaire, and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Sandipan Bhumre.
On 'Badi Badi Baatein', AIMIM leader and Sambhaji Nagar MP Imtiaz Jaleel talks about party being accused of splitting Opposition's votes, why he thinks and the party was kept out of INDIA bloc, and why he thinks the BJP will not be able to fulfil the '400 paar' promise.
'Slap on Our Faces': Why Lakhimpur Kheri Victims' Families Are Angry With BJP
The video of cars crushing the farmers on Tikunia road in Lakhimpur Kheri went viral back then, the farmers were wrapping up their protest against deputy chief minister's Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit amid the now-repealed farm laws, but for some, it was a fatal death.
This included four farmers, one journalist, two BJP workers and the driver.
The vehicle which mauled the farmers allegedly belonged to Ashish Mishra, son of BJP MP and Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni.
Adding insult the injury of the victims' families, almost two and half years later, the main accused Ashish Mishra is out on bail and-Ajay Mishra Teni, has been renominated by the BJP from the Lakhimpur Kheri Lok Sabha constituency. It votes on 13 May in the fourth phase of polling.
The Quint travelled to Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Dhaurehra to meet the families.
'Don't Mess With Reservation': Can Upset Marathas Harm Maharashtra BJP?
"Till Marathas don't get reservation, every politician is banned from entering the village. Give us reservation and then you can enter," reads a signboard erected outside Gangapur village, about 60 kms from Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad).
A board like the one erected outside Gangapur is a common sighting outside scores of villages in the Marathwada region where the most pressing issue this election is Maratha reservation.
The community, which is now more united and stronger on the demands than before, can solely decide the fate of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led 'Mahayuti' alliance in Maharashtra this Lok Sabha election.
The Quint gets you the mood of Marathwada.
How Will Berhampore Vote? Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's Journey from ‘Rock’er Chele’ to a 5-Time MP
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, often considered a maverick in Delhi circles, is one of the tallest leaders in Berhampore and the district of Murshidabad in recent years.
As he campaigned around the constituency, in a pressed linen shirt and a fedora, Adhir threw candies from his jeep to those lining the streets. It's a party for the children and has been his trademark campaigning style.
"We used to go to his campaigns as a kid because we would get chocolates. I'm 29 now and he's been doing this forever", says Berhampore resident Md. Rafi.
As Chowdhury fights for a sixth term as Member of Parliament from the Berhampore seat, The Quint gets you the mood from the ground.
Hyderabad Votes Today: Madhavi Latha and the Seat's Religious Polarisation
From Hyderabad, Madhavi Latha joined the distinguished list of women leaders of the BJP. She is hoping to defeat the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. An obscure personality till about a few months back, Madhavi Latha has shot into national prominence in just a couple of weeks.
Breathless fans of the BJP seem confident that she will do what is seemingly impossible: win the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat which has been an AIMIM and Owaisi fiefdom for about 40 years.
Can Latha dent Owaisi's prospects?
Read Sutanu Guru's ground report for from the high-profile seat.
Voting Begins for 4th Phase of Lok Sabha Elections, Assembly Elections in Andhra, Odisha
Voting for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections has begun. Voting has also begun for Assembly elections for all 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats in Odisha.
PM Modi Appeals Citizens to Come Out and Vote in Large Numbers
As polling for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, as well as Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha began today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) to come out and cast their votes. He wrote:
"In today’s 4th Phase of the Lok Sabha elections, 96 seats across 10 states and UTs are going to the polls. I am sure people in these constituencies will vote in large numbers and the young voters as well as women voters will power this surge in voting. Come, let’s all do our duty and strengthen our democracy!"
Actors Allu Arjun, Jr NTR Cast Vote in Hyderabad
Actors Allu Arjun and Jr NTR arrive at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad to cast their vote.
After casting his vote, Allu Arjun appealed to citizens: "Please cast your vote. Today is the most crucial day for the next 5 years. There will be a huge voter turnout, as more and more people are coming out to vote."
'One Vote Will Give Strength to Poor': Union Minister Giriraj Singh
After casting his vote in Lakhisari in BIhar, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Begusarai, Giriraj Singh told news agency ANI, "I want to appeal to the voters of Bihar that they must go out and vote. One vote can cause the fall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and every vote can help Narendra Modi win more than 400 seats. Your one vote will give strength to the poor..."
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Casts Vote In Hyderabad
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and his wife Usha Naidu cast their vote at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Casts Vote in Kadapa
Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy casts his vote in Kadapa.
Congress's YS Sharmila (current MP), TDP's Chadipiralla Bhupesh Subbarami Reddy and YSRCP's YS Avinash Reddy are contesting elections from this seat.
AIMIM Candidate Asaduddin Owaisi Casts Vote in Hyderabad
AIMIM candidate from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote at a polling booth in Hyderabad.
After casting his vote, Owaisi told reporters, "Every election cannot be the same as it was 5 years ago. The challenges are different, issues are different. This is a very important, historic parliamentary election in our country..."
BJP's Madhavi Latha and BRS' Gaddam Srinivas Yadav are contesting from Hyderabad constituency.
'No Doubt We Are Going To Win': Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Congress MP and party candidate from Berhampore (West Bengal) Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters, "We are going to win and there is no doubt about that. I am extremely confident. Some isolated incidents have taken place at about 4-5 places. We are also going to file a complaint."
He added that he is competing with BJP and TMC, and not with any individual. "TMC should not have nominated Yusuf Pathan from here, it is useless," he told the media.
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav Casts Vote in Ujjain
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav cast his vote at a polling station in Ujjain.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Casts Vote, Appeals Voters To Exercise Right
After casting his vote in Hyderabad, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, G Kishan Reddy told reporters, "...Polling day is declared a holiday so that you all can cast your vote. Do not consider it a regular holiday...Dr APJ Abdul Kalam used to say that voting is a fundamental right and it is a responsibility...Please go out and vote for the country's development, security, and welfare."
Former Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu Casts Vote in Guntur
Former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu caste his vote in Guntur, after which, he told reporters, "It is our responsibility to cast our vote and demand a bright future. 100% (TDP will come to power in the state)."
Voting for Assembly elections and the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections is taking place simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh today.
Long Queues in Srinagar As J&K Votes First Time After Abrogation of Article 370
People stand in queues to cast their votes at a polling station at Fakeer Gujri on the outskirts of Srinagar. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be witnessing elections for the first time after Article 370 -- which grants special status to J&K -- was abrogated by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019.
(Photo: PTI)
UP Minister Jitin Prasada Votes in Shahjahanpur
Uttar Pradesh Minister Jitin Prasada cast his vote in shahjahanpur, and told reporters, "People of Shahjahanpur are coming out and voting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi...I am very confident that the turnout will improve and go further..."
Farooq, Omar Abdullah Cast Vote in Srinagar
JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah and JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah cast their votes in Srinagar.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be witnessing elections for the first time after Article 370 -- which grants special status to J&K -- was abrogated by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019.
(Image: Twitter/ @OmarAbdullah)
10.35% Voter Turnout Till 9 am: EC
10.35% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
State-wise Voter Turnout Till 9 am
Andhra Pradesh: 9.05%
Bihar: 10.18%
Jammu And Kashmir: 5.07%
Jharkhand: 11.78%
Madhya Pradesh: 14.97%
Maharashtra: 6.45%
Odisha: 9.23%
Telangana: 9.51%
Uttar Pradesh: 11.67%
West Bengal: 15.24%
'Polling Station in Birbhum Vandalised by TMC Workers': BJP
BJP workers allege that their stall outside a polling station in Birbhum, West Bengal was vandalised by TMC workers, news agency ANI reported.
In response, a TMC worker told reporters, " "We don't even know where the BJP camp office is... They should check the CCTV, they will know who did it. Whoever did it should be arrested. They know that they will not get votes here, so they are doing this to create an atmosphere in their favour."
Pawan Kalyan casts his vote in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh
Pawan Kalyan casts his vote in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh
(Photo: Twitter/ @JanaSenaParty)
Union Minister Arjun Munda Casts Vote in Jharkhand
Union Minister Arjun Munda and BJP candidate from Khunti, Jharkhand cast his vote and told reporters, "I have cast my vote here today. Today is the mega festival of democracy. This election is for taking the country in the direction of betterment..."
Clash Breaks Out Between BJP, TMC Workers in Durgapur
A clash broke out between BJP and TMC workers in Durgapur, West Bengal, news agency ANI reported.
While TMC leader Ram Prasad Haldar told ANI, "Since 6 am these (BJP) people have been coming with the central forces and trying to influence the voters. We protested against it, voters also protested... They are trying to bring polling agents from outside... People of the area are opposing them here."
In response, BJP MLA Laxman Ghorui said, "Our polling agents were repeatedly thrown out of the polling booth located at TN School in Durgapur. Alpana Mukherjee from booth number 22, Somnath Mandal from booth number 83 and Rahul Sahni from booth number 82 were repeatedly thrown out of the polling booth by TMC goons..."
Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Casts Vote
Jharkhand CM Champai Soren cast his vote at a polling booth in Jilingora, Saraikela Kharsawan district.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren with his wife shows inked finger after casting votes at a polling station in Khunti during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls.
(Image: PTI)
Andhra Congress Chief YS Sharmila Casts Vote in Kadapa
Andhra Pradesh Congress President and candidate from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, YS Sharmila casts her vote at a polling booth in the constituency.
After voting, she told reporters, "I am very sure and confident of my victory here. We should all remember that Congress started with 2% votes, we were already at rock bottom. I am very confident that Congress will get double digit percentage and seats this time..."
She faces a contest from TDP's Chadipiralla Bhupesh Subbarami Reddy and sitting MP YSRCP's YS Avinash Reddy.
BRS Leader KT Rama Rao Casts Vote In Hyderabad
BRS leader KT Rama Rao and his family cast votes at a polling booth in Hyderabad.
'All EVMs Working, Voting Peaceful in Vizag': Police Commissioner
Commissioner of Police (CP) Ravi Shankar Ayyanar told news agency ANI, "Elections are being held here in Visakhapatnam city, more than 5000 personnel are deployed here. EVMs are working everywhere and voting is going on peacefully in all seven constituencies...''
BJP's Hyderabad Candidate Alleges Voters' Names Deleted From Electoral List
BJP candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, Madhavi Latha alleged that names of several voters have been deleted from the voters list while visiting polling booth no 122 at Azampur in the constituency, news agency ANI has reported.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Casts Vote in Mahabubnagar
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and his family cast their votes at a polling station in Kodangal in the Mahabubnagar constituency.
24.87% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 11 am: EC
Voter turnout of 24.87% was recorded till 11 am in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, as per the Election Commission.
State-wise Voter Turnout Till 11 AM
Andhra Pradesh: 23.10%
Bihar: 22.54
Jammu And Kashmir: 14.94%
Jharkhand: 27.40%
Madhya Pradesh: 32.38%
Maharashtra: 17.51%
Odisha: 23.28%
Telangana: 24.31%
Uttar Pradesh: 27.12%
West Bengal: 32.78%
BJP's Lakhimpur Kheri Candidate Ajay Mishra Teni Casts Vote
Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, who is BJP's candidate from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, casts his vote.
Samajwadi Party(SP)'s Utkarsh Verma and Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP)'s Anashay Kalra are contesting against Teni from this seat.
BJP's Beed Candidate Pankaja Munde Casts Vote
BJP candidate from Beed (Maharashtra) Pankaja Munde casts her vote at a polling station.
NCP-SCP has fielded Bajrang Manohar Sonwale from the Beed Lok Sabha seat.
Ground Report | 'Slap on Our Faces': Why Lakhimpur Kheri Victims' Families Are Angry With BJP
On 3 October 2021, a car mowed down four farmers, one journalist, two BJP workers and a driver on Tikunia road in Lakhimpur Kheri.
That day, farmers were wrapping up their protest against deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit amid the now-repealed farm laws. The video of the incident went viral.
The vehicle which killed the farmers allegedly belonged to Ashish Mishra, son of BJP MP and Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni.
Adding insult to the injury of the victims' families, almost two and half years later, the main accused Ashish Mishra is out on bail and-Ajay Mishra Teni, has been renominated by the BJP from the Lakhimpur Kheri Lok Sabha constituency.
The Quint travelled to Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Dhaurehra to meet the families. Read the full report here.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari Casts Vote in Indore
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari cast his vote at a polling booth in Indore.
BJP Leader Kailash Vijayvargiya Casts Vote in Indore
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and his wife show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their votes in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
(Photo: PTI)
Voter in Lakhimpur Kheri Alleges EVM Tampering
A woman voter in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri alleged she voted for Samajwadi party but BJP slip was issued (from the VVPAT).
Telangana BJP Candidates Accused of ‘Bullying’ Burqa-Clad Voters
Telangana BJP Candidates Accused of ‘Bullying’ Burqa-Clad Voters
In Telangana’s Hyderabad constituency, BJP candidate Madhavi Latha allegedly asked burqa-clad voters to show their ID cards at a polling booth. After a video of the incident drew flak on social media, Latha told news agency ANI that “as per law candidate has the right to check the ID cards…”
Meanwhile, in Nizamabad, BJP’s candidate Arvind Dharmapuri allegedly objected to Muslim women wearing the burqa while casting their votes at a polling booth in his constituency. In a purported video circulated on social media, he was seen raising his voice against a polling official over the same.
With inputs from Meenakshy Sasikumar
WATCH | Tenali YSRCP MLA Slaps Voter at Polling Booth
Ruling YSRCP MLA Annabathuni Sivakumar from Tenali is seen losing his temper and slapping a voter at a polling booth in a purported video. The voter is seen slapping him back. Soon after, the MLA's supporters are seen thrashing the voter.
Sivakumar reportedly slapped the voter as he objected to the MLA jumping the queue to cast his vote.
Case Against BJP's Hyderabad Candidate For 'Undue Influence at Elections'
Even as BJP's Hyderabad candidate Madhavi Latha was seen "visiting" polling booths after casting her vote, the collector of Hyderabad registered a case against her in Malakpet Police Station under sections 171C (undue influence at elections), 186 (voluntarily disrupting public servant in discharge of duty), 505(1)(c) (intent to incite a class/community) of IPC and Section 132 (misconduct leading to removal from polling booth) of the Representation of the People Act.
40.32% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 1 PM; Maximum in West Bengal
According to the Election Commission of India, states undergoing the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections had the following voter turnout till 1pm:
Andhra Pradesh: 40.26%
Bihar: 34.44%
Jammu And Kashmir: 23.57%
Jharkhand: 43.80%
Madhya Pradesh: 48.52%
Maharashtra: 30.85%
Odisha: 39.30%
Telangana: 40.38%
Uttar Pradesh: 39.68%
West Bengal: 51.87%
Not Going to Let TMC Capture Booths: Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Congress MP and party candidate from Berhampore, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters that workers of Mamata Banerjee's0 Trinamool Congress (TMC) "are trying to capture the roads and create problems for the people."
He said, "TMC wants to reduce the voter turnout because they know that the maximum number of voters are going to vote against TMC. They are scared so they want to disturb the voting process. We are not going to let them capture any booth, nor am I going to let TMC win in Berhampore..."
Ground Report | How Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Grew from Berhampore's ‘Rock’er Chele’ to a 5-Time MP
As The Quint went across Berhampore, most people agreed that this would be a tough fight for Adhir. There’s a natural anti-incumbency after five terms, the BJP- with a strong candidate- might play spoiler, and the TMC has fielded a Muslim candidate in a constituency with over 60 percent Muslim vote.
Moreover, his winning margin in 2019 was just over 6 percent. But the sense that Adhir will be remembered in Berhampore, even if he loses, shows across the constituency, whether one speaks to his supporters or detractors.
Former Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu Accuses Ruling YSRCP of Attacking TDP Candidate in Tadipatri
TMC Supporters Pelt Stones at BJP Durgapur Candidate Dilip Ghosh's Vehicle: Report
TMC supporters allegedly pelted stones on the vehicle of BJP candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, Dilip Ghosh, news agency ANI has reported.
52.6% Turnout Till 3PM, Highest in West Bengal
An approximate voter turnout of 52.6 percent was recorded till 3pm on Monday, 13 May, in constituencies where polling is being held as part of the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to the Election Commission.
(Photo: The Quint)
The state-wise breakup of voter turnout in Phase 4 is as follows:
Andhra Pradesh: 55.49%
Bihar: 45.23%
Jammu and Kashmir: 29.93%
Jharkhand: 56.42%
Madhya Pradesh: 59.63%
Maharashtra: 42.35%
Odisha: 52.91%
Telangana: 52.34%
Uttar Pradesh: 48.41%
West Bengal: 66.05%
NCP(SP) Leader Supriya Sule Alleges CCTV Lapse
Baramati Lok Sabha candidate and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule alleged that the CCTVs in the room where EVMs are being kept were turned off for over 45 minutes.
"After the polling in Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, the CCTVs in the godown where the EVMs are kept were switched off for 45 minutes this morning. It is suspicious that the CCTVs were switched off where a very important thing like EVM is kept. Also, this is a big lapse," the daughter of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said.
She also said that the party's election representatives did not receive "satisfactory answers" when they raised the issue with the concerned authorities.
However, Baramati Returning Officer Kavita Dwivedi issued a clarification in response to the NCP (SP)'s allegations.
“There’s a new post which is going viral claiming that CCTV cameras in the godown are shut. I have taken a detailed inquiry into this and it has been found that the electrician was working there and he had unplugged a wire for a small time, which caused disconnection of the TV screen. However, all the cameras are functional and the data including for the period (when the screen was disconnected) is safe. There’s no issue there and the telecast is being done properly,” Dwivedi was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
'BJP Thinks It'll Win...': Akhilesh Yadav
(Photo: The Quint)
"Information was received from a lot of places that EVMs were faulty, or it took time for the machines to start. BJP thinks it will win through falsehood, but public will defeat it through vote. The anger of public will reach its peak after seventh phase of polling," Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency PTI after visiting a polling station in Kannauj.
Earlier in the day, several voters in Gole in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri district had alleged that when they pressed the 'Cycle button' (Samajwadi Party's symbol) on EVMs, the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips showed 'Lotus' (BJP's symbol).
Meanwhile, the district magistrate denied all allegations and posted another video of a woman voter saying that the polling went "fine".
Party Workers Clash in Andhra Pradesh
Violence erupted in Andhra Pradesh where voters are headed to the polling booth to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections as well as the legislative Assembly elections at the state-level.
Party workers from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) clashed in Macherla constituency in the state's Palnadu district, resulting in two persons being injured, according to a report by The Newsminute.
TDP Polling Agents Kidnapped in Andhra: Report
Three Telugu Desam Party (TDP) election representatives have reportedly been "rescued" after being kidnapped in the state's Chitoor district on Monday, 13 May, amid the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, according to a report by The Newsminute.
The Chandrababu Naidu-led party alleged that YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were behind the alleged abduction of its polling agents.
Meanwhile, YSRCP accused a TDP worker of stabbing its polling agent in Chittoor.
Badminton Player Jwala Gutta Casts Vote in Hyderabad
Indian badminton player Jwala Gutta and her family members show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their votes in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Hyderabad on Monday, 13 May.
(Photo: PTI)
62.31% Turnout Till 5PM, Lowest in Jammu and Kashmir
An approximate voter turnout of 62.31 percent was recorded till 5pm on Monday, 13 May, in constituencies where polling is being held as part of the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to the Election Commission.
The state-wise breakup of voter turnout in Phase 4 is as follows:
Andhra Pradesh: 68.04%
Bihar: 54.14%
Jammu and Kashmir: 35.75%
Jharkhand: 63.14%
Madhya Pradesh: 68.01%
Maharashtra: 52.49%
Odisha: 62.96%
Telangana: 61.16%
Uttar Pradesh: 56.35%
West Bengal: 75.66%
YSRCP MLA Slaps Voter Waiting in Line, Case Filed
Andhra Pradesh Police have registered a case against sitting YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Sivakumar after he slapped a voter waiting in line at the polling booth in Tenali Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district on Monday, 13 May.
According to the FIR accessed by The Quint, complainant Gottumukkala Sudhakar said that Sivakumar and his family members skipped the line and went into the polling booth to cast their ballots. Sudhakar further alleged that he was slapped after questioning Sivakumar for not waiting in line like others.
"Further, Sivakumar's followers (7-8 members) wrongfully restrained him and beat him with hands and legs. Due to that he received bleeding injuries on his face," the FIR read which has been filed under Sections 341, 323, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
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Published: 13 May 2024,07:00 AM IST