- A QUICK RECAP OF THE DAY (Phase 2)
- • Friday saw the second phase of seven in the world's biggest elections.
- • Around 106 million people were expected to vote on Friday.
- • Aggregate voter turnout as of 3 p.m. was 50.25 %, election officials said.
- • Voters will elect representatives to fill 543 seats of the Lok Sabha. The party or coalition that secures a majority will form the next government.
- • The first phase saw more than 100 million people vote across 21 states and territories.
- • India’s Supreme Court has declined to order any change to the vote-counting process in the ongoing national election, rejecting petitions to tally all paper slips generated as proof of voting for votes recorded by electronic voting machines.
- • Prime Minister Modi says people should come out to vote in record numbers to strengthen democracy.
- • Main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has urged people to vote, saying their ballot will decide whether “the next government will be of ‘a few billionaires’ or ‘140 crore [1.4 billion] Indians’”.
- • About 969 million registered voters are eligible to participate in the world’s largest democratic exercise over six weeks. The results will be announced on June 4.
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Noida: Clubhouses turn into polling booths
April 26, 2024 5:20 PM (GMT+6)
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Four polling booths in Noida, two in Dadri and one in Jewar will be managed exclusively by women, said district officials. (HT Photo/ representative image)
Clubhouses in the high-rise societies of Gautam Buddha Nagar, or Noida, have been turned into polling stations with five-star-like arrangements.
The mega city near Indian capital New Delhi, has gone to vote today with its large chunk of electorate being the upwardly mobile, urban Indian, living in high-rise apartments.
The administration’s aim was to persuade these voters to step out of their high-rise apartments, and cast vote, according to the election commission officials. So 100 polling booths were set up at over 60 high-rise societies.
The clubhouses are offering air-conditioned comfort to voters, with selfie corners, and refreshments. Many model polling booths have also been set up with balloons, flowers, and light music. In some schools which have been set up as polling stations, voters are being given red roses and hand-crafted gifts.
Noida has around 7 lakh voters and the officials are keen to make the election experience a memorable and pleasant one, while improving the voting percentage.
Maharashtra: 1.49 crore voters; four tribal villages boycott polls
April 26, 2024 4:40 PM (GMT+6)
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Source: ETV Bharat
Voting in eight Lok Sabha constituencies across Maharashtra is currently underway and a total of 1.49 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes across 16,589 polling centres.
This is the first election in Maharashtra following the split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. The Western State sends 48 MPs to the Lower House, the largest number after Uttar Pradesh’s 80.
Of the 1.49 crore voters, 77,21,374 are men, and 72,04,106 are women, while 432 are persons from the third-gender category. A voter turnout of 43.01% was recorded till 3pm.
Meanwhile, four tribal villages located in the Satpura mountain range of Amravati Lok Sabha seat decided to boycott the current election over local issues of road connectivity, healthcare services, drinking water, and electricity.
Jammu: Voter turnout above 57%, 102-year-old casts vote
April 26, 2024 4:15 PM (GMT+6)
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After he cast his vote, the centenarian showed his inked finger and posed for photos. Source: DDNews
The crucial Lok Sabha seat of Jammu from the state of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a decent voter turnout of 57.76% till 3 pm local time. As per the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, polling booths saw enthusiasm among voters, especially the new ones. Some voters were even dressed in traditional Dogra attire.
Polling began at 7am in all 2,416 polling stations across the constituency.
In the Reasi district of Jammu constituency, 102-year-old Haji Karam Din made his way to the polling station accompanied by a family member and leaning on his walking stick, to cast his vote. The elderly citizen was cheered on by the officials and media present there, and he proudly displayed his inked finger and posed for photographs outside the booth.
This election holds significant importance for Jammu, being the first major electoral event since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories five years ago.
Peaceful and smooth Polling, Forces Deployed
April 26, 2024 3:55 PM (GMT+6)
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Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. (Photo: ANI)
Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Darjeeling today. Expressing satisfaction with the voter turnout, he stated, “A lot of women voters turned up. It is crucial that there is a record voter turnout in the second phase. Prime Minister Modi has also emphasized that your vote strengthens our democracy.”
Uttar Pradesh’s Director-General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar, informed that the second phase of the Lok Sabha election commenced at 7 am across eight parliamentary constituencies in nine districts. He mentioned that the voting process was peaceful, with no untoward incidents reported so far. Kumar conveyed that all field personnel were continuously monitoring the situation, with the deployment of the Election Commission’s security forces. He further noted that 239 force companies had been deployed.
According to data from the Election Commission of India, the voter turnout in the state’s total constituencies was 35.73 percent as of 1 pm.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho, Bageshwar Dham Dhirendra Shastri cast his vote, emphasizing, “It is everyone’s right and the festival of democracy. Every Indian citizen should cast their vote in this festival. ‘First voting, then refreshment’… Vote wisely to strengthen your nation for the national interest… We are contributing to strengthening democracy and national interest.”
According to Saju Vaheed, the Returning Officer for East Tripura, “The polling process is progressing very smoothly. We are closely monitoring it from the control room, and any issues related to EVMs that arose have already been resolved. In areas with poor connectivity, we are relying on radio and wireless communications. At 2-3 locations in such shadow areas, there were some road-related challenges, and for those places, the entire communication is being facilitated through Ham Radio and wireless modes.”
Historic Milestone: Bru Voters's First Lok Sabha Voting
In a historic moment, the Bru voters in Tripura cast their ballots for the first time in the Lok Sabha 2024 elections on Friday. This marked a significant milestone as they had previously participated in the state assembly elections held in March of the previous year.
![Elderly tribal voters at polling stations in Tripura state](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bru-voters-in-Tripura-cast-their-ballots-for-the-first-time.jpeg?resize=1170%2C658&ssl=1)
Elderly tribal voters at polling stations in Tripura state
It is noteworthy that the Bru migrants, who had resided in six relief camps in the North Tripura district until 2020, have now been permanently resettled in 12 different locations across the state.
Bengaluru: Voters get free dosa, cheaper taxi fares
April 26, 2024 3:35 PM (GMT+6)
![‘Free Dosa, Discounted Rides’: Bengaluru Businesses Roll Out Incentives to Boost Voter Turnout](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bengaluru-Voters-get-free-dosa-cheaper-taxi-fares.jpg?resize=637%2C411&ssl=1)
Staff at Nisarga Grand restaurant serving food, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, April 26, 2024. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Various restaurants, businesses, and transport services in India’s Bengaluru are rolling out creative incentives to boost voter turnout. These incentives, ranging from free coffee and dosa to discounts on air fare, are meant to engage urban voters.
At some food outlets, customers need to show their finger stained with indelible ink as proof they’ve voted. The city is voting on Friday in round two of India’s seven-phase election.
On Wednesday, the state’s high court allowed an association of hotels to give food for free or at discounted prices as long as it did not violate election guidelines.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Indians-collect-the-food-after-showing-his-ink-marked-finger.-April-26-2024.-REUTERS-Navesh-Chitrakar.jpg?resize=360%2C240&ssl=1)
A customer received a receipt to collect the food after showing his ink-marked finger. April 26, 2024. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Nisaranga Grand, a Bengaluru eatery announced free dosas for those who voted in the city for the Lok Sabha elections, huge crowds thronged to the restaurant on Friday morning. People were seen waiting in long queues for their free dosas after they cast their votes. The restaurant is also reportedly serving voters free laddus and fruit juices.
Popular amusement park Wonderla is giving tickets to voters at discounted prices, while Deck of Brews, a pub in the city, is giving away free beer to its first 50 customers who have voted.
Ridesharing app Blu-Smart, meanwhile, is offering a 50% discount to passengers traveling within 30km (18 miles) of polling stations, while taxi aggregator Rapido is giving free rides to people with disabilities and elderly voters.
Moreover, SOCIAL – a hangout spot – is providing a 20 per cent discount on meals for those who show their voting receipts, and Air India Express is also offering a 19 per cent discount on flights to first-time voters aged 18 and 22. BluSmart, a mobility aggregator app, is also among those offering incentives, facilitating discounted rides within 30 km of polling stations in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.
Long lines spotted at Nisarga Grand Hotel, Bengaluru,dishing out free benne(Butter) dosa, ghee laddu, and juice to voters! #VoteMaadiOotaMaadi campaign in full swing. They've been at it since 2018! #VotingDay #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/WyjfYrxtcx
— Prashant Gupta (@GuptaJi_Journo) April 26, 2024
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Just a Quick Recap
April 26, 2024 3:00 PM (GMT+6)
If You are just joined us. Here are some of the latest developments:
- India’s Supreme Court has declined to order any change to the vote-counting process in the ongoing national election, rejecting petitions to tally all paper slips generated as proof of voting for votes recorded by electronic voting machines.
- As of 1pm (07:30 GMT), the northeastern state of Tripura had the highest voter turnout, while the western state of Maharashtra had the lowest.
- India’s main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has urged people to vote, saying their ballot will decide whether “the next government will be of ‘a few billionaires’ or ‘140 crore [1.4 billion] Indians’”.
- Prime Minister Modi says people should come out to vote in record numbers to strengthen democracy.
‘Born in West Bengal in previous life’: PM Modi
April 26, 2024 1:45 PM (GMT+6)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Malda, West Bengal amid voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a public rally, Modi expressed gratitude for the love and support he was receiving and made a statement, that he was “either born in Bengal in my previous life or am going to be born in the lap of a mother from Bengal in the next life”. As the battle for Bengal heats up, over 31% of the state’s 51.17 lakh voters turned out to exercise their franchise till 11am local time. Earlier, the Election Commission of India stated that 98% of the polling stations in West Bengal are critical and that the central forces would be deployed at all the booths.
Beginning today's campaign from Malda Uttar in West Bengal. The atmosphere here is euphoric. The support for the BJP indicates that people have faith in politics of development.https://t.co/MwSs7Qzkx2
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024
Stars show voting zeal
April 26, 2024 1:35 PM (GMT+6)
Across Kerala’s 20 constituencies, long queues were visible at most polling booths, hinting at a potential surge in voter turnout exceeding the 2019 numbers. To avoid hassles, most candidates reached the polling stations early on Friday morning to smoothly cast their votes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived with his family to vote in Pinarayi.
Despite hectic schedules, many film personalities made their way to their respective constituencies’ polling booths to exercise their franchise.
Film star Tovino Thomas, the Kerala brand ambassador for the Election Commission’s SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) program, voted at the Irinjalakuda Girls School.
Actor Fahad Fazil, accompanied by his father and veteran director Fazil, came directly from Kochi to vote at a polling booth near the District Collector’s residence in Alappuzha. His wife, Nazriya, was set to cast her vote in Ernakulam.
In Thiruvananthapuram, NDA’s Kollam candidate and actor Krishnakumar arrived with his family early in the morning to vote at a polling booth.
Actor Prakash Raj, a known critic of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, cast his vote in Bengaluru amid polling for the second phase on Friday. The actor, clad in a red printed shirt and white trousers, arrived at his designated polling station in Bengaluru to get his finger inked.
Notably, Sreeleshmi, a bride-to-be, was the first to reach the polling station in Puthoorvattam.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024 Nearly 40% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 1 pm
April 26, 2024 1:00 AM (GMT+6)
Phase 2 Turnout
What You Need To Know About India's Phase 2 Of Lok Sabha Elections
In pics: Voters offered Glucon-D amidst heatwave, women out in good numbers
![Officials are offering energy drinks to beat heatwave conditions at polling booths. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Officials-are-offering-energy-drinks-to-beat-heatwave-conditions-at-polling-booths-e1714114451654.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Women-run polling booth in Katihar Bihar. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Women-run-polling-booth-in-Katihar-Bihar.jpg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Women voters are coming out in good numbers to vote in Phase 2. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Women-voters-are-coming-out-in-good-numbers-to-vote-in-Phase-2.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Elderly tribal voters arrived at polling stations in Tripura state. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Elderly-tribal-voters-arrived-at-polling-stations-in-Tripura-state.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Elderly tribal voter in northeastern Tripura state. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Elderly-tribal-voter-in-northeastern-Tripura-state.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Voters reach polling booth by boat in Dungarpur Rajasthan. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Voters-reach-polling-booth-by-boat-in-Dungarpur-Rajasthan.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![First time voter from Tripura. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/First-time-voter-from-Tripura.jpeg?resize=399%2C390&ssl=1)
![Voting selfie point in Chittorgarh Rajasthan. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Voting-selfie-point-in-Chittorgarh-Rajasthan.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Voting booth in Jammu. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Voting-booth-in-Jammu-e1714114953849.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
![Ensuring smooth elections, security personnel are patrolling on horses in the diara area of Katihar, Bihar. Source: ECI](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-26-at-12.46.57-PM.jpeg?resize=585%2C390&ssl=1)
Heat wave hits voters as polling resumes
April 26, 2024 12:00 PM (GMT+6)
Millions of people lining up outside polling stations in 13 states across India are hit by a scorching heatwave.
The second phase of the poll – conducted in phases to ease the immense logistical burden – includes districts that have this week seen temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
India’s weather bureau has said that severe heatwave conditions would continue through the weekend in parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
Kerala’s 20 seats, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Bihar and Assam, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Manipur are going to polls in the second phase.
The heat has disrupted campaigning earlier this week when on 25 April, Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari fainted while speaking at an election rally in eastern Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district amid the scorching heat.
Earlier this week, India’s election commission said it had formed a task force to review the impact of heatwaves and humidity before each round of voting.
The ongoing heatwave spell is the second this month.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: 25% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 11 am
April 26, 2024 11:00 AM (GMT+6)
Phase 2 Turnout
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Lok Sabha Polls 2024 25% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 11 am
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Rahul Gandhi makes vote appeal to "Protect Democracy
Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad, on Friday morning asked people to vote in large numbers as the exercise will decide if the next government will have a “few billionaires” or not.
“My dear countrymen! Today is the second phase of this historic election, which is going to decide the fate of the country. Your vote will decide whether the next government will be of ‘a few billionaires’ or of ‘140 crore Indians’. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen to step out of their homes today and become a ‘soldier of the Constitution’ and vote to protect democracy,”_ Rahul Gandhi
मेरे प्यारे देशवासियों!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 26, 2024
देश की तकदीर का फैसला करने जा रहे इस ऐतिहासिक चुनाव का आज दूसरा चरण है।
आपका वोट तय करेगा कि अगली सरकार ‘चंद अरबपतियों’ की होगी या ‘140 करोड़ हिंदुस्तानियों’ की।
इसलिए हर नागरिक का कर्तव्य है कि वह आज घर से बाहर निकले और ‘संविधान का सिपाही’ बन कर…
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Google Celebrates Phase 2 Of Lok Sabha Elections With Doodle
April 26, 2024 10:30AM (GMT+6)
What happened in Phase 1?
The first of the seven phases of the mammoth Indian general election took place on April 19 when 102 seats across 21 states and union territories voted.
For some states such as Tamil Nadu and Uttharkhand, elections were held on all the seats in the first phase. Key northern states including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are voting in all phases.
According to India’s election body, the voter turnout in the first phase was 60 percent.
Tweet of Narendra Modi
Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024
লোকসভা নিৰ্বাচনৰ আজি দ্বিতীয় পৰ্যায়ৰ ভোটগ্ৰহণ হ'বলগীয়া সমষ্টিসমূহত সকলো ভোটাৰকে অভিলেখ হাৰত অংশগ্ৰহণ কৰিবলৈ আহ্বান জনাইছোঁ। অধিক ভোটদানে আমাৰ গণতন্ত্ৰক শক্তিশালী কৰে। মই বিশেষকৈ আমাৰ যুৱ আৰু মহিলা ভোটাৰসকলক বৃহৎ হাৰত ভোটদান কৰিবলৈ আহ্বান জনাইছোঁ। আপোনালোকৰ ভোট আপোনালোকৰ…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024
Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Hema Malini, Arun Govil: Phase 2’s Star Candidates
April 26, 2024. 10:10 PM (GMT+6)
The second phase of voting in India’s Lok Sabha polls is underway on 26 April from 7am local time.
Eighty-nine seats across 13 states and Union Territories are going to vote today.
And all eyes are on the main candidates from the BJP and Congress who are in the fray for Phase 2 polling.
Here is a quick look at today’s star candidates
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rahul-gandhi.jpg?fit=487%2C585&ssl=1)
Rahul Gandhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is re-contesting from Wayanad seat in Kerala. In the 2019 election, Gandhi had won from Wayanad by a substantial margin of more than 7 lakh votes against his closest rival, CPI's PP Suneer. This victory had marked the largest margin of victory in Kerala's electoral history. This time, he is being fielded against CPI's Annie Raja and BJP's K Surendran. The Congress leader has remained in the news throughout the election period. His consistent attack on the BJP for ruining the country's democratic institutions and targeted attacks against opposition leaders have made headlines.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Shashi-Tharoor.jpg?fit=404%2C458&ssl=1)
Shashi Tharoor:
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, Shashi Tharoor has been leaving no stone unturned in the battle for his Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala. He is a three-time sitting MP from here and is hoping for a fourth straight win. But the contest is intense with BJP and CPI candidates giving him a tough fight. Previously, in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Tharoor had secured victory by a substantial margin.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hema-Malini.jpg?fit=391%2C459&ssl=1)
Hema Malini:
Up north, Bollywood actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is seeking her third straight win from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. She is representing the BJP and is contesting against the Congress party's Mukesh Dhangar. In the 2019 polls, Hema Malini had won from Mathura with a huge margin. She secured around 530,000 votes, which was over 293,000 votes more than her closest competitor, Kunwar Narendra Singh from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) party, who got 377,822 votes.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Arun-Govil.jpg?fit=431%2C540&ssl=1)
Arun Govil
Arun Govil, renowned for his portrayal of the Hindu Lord Rama in the Ramayan TV series, is running for the Meerut MP seat. Up against him are Bahujan Samajwadi Party's (BSP) Devvrat Kumar Tyagi and Samajwadi Party's (SP) Sunita Verma. Govil is representing the BJP and is on his debut run here, and is being closely watched by political pundits. Govil is highly respected among the Hindu community and usually draws adulatory crowds, with people lining up to watch and worship him along with his screen-actors who played the roles of Laxman and Sita. Govil, who was born in Meerut and spent the first 17 years of his life there, has said he will work to develop Meerut including building an airport, sports stadium, and improving the traffic situation.
Welcome to our live coverage as Indians begins voting for the phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls
April 26, 2024 10:00AM (GMT+6)
Hello and thank you for joining us as polls open in India’s multiphase elections.
Stay with the Press Xpress Live as we bring you all the latest developments, analysis and much more throughout the day. Tulika Bhatnagar, our International Correspondent from India and Hasan Al Manzur and Tania Akter from Bangladesh will bring you exclusive coverage of the elections. Stay Tuned!
You Can Also Check Phase 1: