- A QUICK RECAP OF THE DAY (PHASE 3)
- • Polls are under way in the third of the seven-phase Indian election, with 11 states voting for 93 seats in Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament.
- • 60.2% Voter turnout reported till 5 PM
- • PM Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cast their vote today
- • The first two phases of the vote were held on April 19 and April 26 in 190 constituencies, with a voter turnout of 66.1 percent and 66.7 percent, respectively, about 4 percent lower than in 2019.
- • Delhi court extends Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody till May 20
- • There are about 969 million registered voters for the world’s largest democratic exercise over six weeks. The results will be announced on June 4.
60.19% Voter Turnout In 10 States, 1 UT Till 5 PM
May 7, 2024 06:00 PM (GMT+6)
The voter turnout recorded across 10 states and 1 union territory till 5 pm was 60.16 percent as per the Election Commission data. While Assam saw the highest turnout so far, Maharashtra witnessed the lowest.
Take a look at voting trends in 10 states and 1 UT till 5:00 PM-
Assam 74.86% Bihar 56.01% Chhattisgarh 66.87% Goa 72.52% Gujarat 55.22% Karnataka 66.05% Madhya Pradesh 62.28% Maharashtra 53.40% Uttar Pradesh 55.13% West Bengal 73.93% Dadra & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu 65.23%.
Sonia Gandhi makes vote appeal
May 7, 2024 05:40 PM (GMT+6)
![Sonia Gandhi makes vote appeal](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sonia-Gandhi-makes-vote-appeal.jpg)
Sonia Gandhi makes vote appeal
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has made a vote appeal to the people to vote for her party for a “brighter and more equal future” for all.
She said the Congress and the INDIA bloc members were committed to defending the Constitution and democracy. “Reject the proponents of lies and hatred and vote for the Congress for a brighter and more equal future for all. Press the hand button and together let us build a stronger, more united India with peace and harmony for all,” Gandhi said in a video message.
PM Modi announces June 4 as INDIA bloc’s ‘expiry date’
May 7, 2024 05:30 PM (GMT+6)
![PM Modi announces June 4 as INDIA bloc’s ‘expiry date’](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM-Modi-announces-June-4-as-INDIA-bloc-‘expiry-date.jpg)
PM Modi announces June 4 as INDIA bloc’s ‘expiry date’
“Polling in 3rd phase has made it clear that June 4 is the expiry date of INDIA bloc,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a poll rally in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
The Opposition is busy in appeasing its vote bank, Congress manifesto reflects Muslim League, he further added.
You Can Also Read: LARGE NUMBER OF FOREIGN DELEGATES TO OBSERVE INDIA’S ELECTION 2024
Newlyweds exercising their democratic rights together
May 7, 2024 05:00 PM (GMT+6)
Uniting in love and democracy! ✨Newlyweds exercising their rights together.
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) May 7, 2024
Celebrate #ChunavKaParv and #GoVote #YouAreTheOne #InkWaliSelfie #Phase3 #GeneralElections2024 #LokSabhaElections2024 #DeshKaGarv #IVote4Sure pic.twitter.com/MsRABPfeuJ
IN DEPTH 🎙 Live: India Election Phase 3 Voting
As we head halfway into India’s election season, phase 3 voting is going on today. 93 constituencies, across 11 states and union territories, and 1,300 candidates. To give us a catchup on that and to study what’s happening today our guest Dr Suvrokamal Dutta engages in deep talks with our host Tulika Bhatnagar
Lone Indian voter casts ballot in special forest booth
May 7, 2024 04:10 PM (GMT+6)
![Lone Indian voter casts ballot in special forest booth](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lone-Indian-voter-casts-ballot-in-special-forest-booth.jpeg)
Lone Indian voter casts ballot in special forest booth
Deep inside a protected Indian forest, a priest cast his ballot on Tuesday, ensuring a 100 percent turnout at the polling station where he is the sole registered voter.
India is in the midst of the largest democratic exercise in human history and the country pledges to reach every voter, no matter where they live.
That has required polling officials to traverse through the Gir forest – the last remaining natural habitat of the endangered Asiatic lion – to set up a voting booth in Banej, where Mahant Haridas Udaseen is the sole resident.
“The fact that a team of 10 people came here in the jungle for just one voter shows how important each vote is,” the 42-year-old told AFP, holding up a finger marked with indelible ink to show he had voted.
More than 968 million people are eligible to vote this year, and electoral laws demand that each voter is no more than two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from a polling booth.
For polling officers in Gujarat, that meant a two-day trip including a long and bumpy journey by bus on unpaved forest roads to ensure the priest could participate.
Udaseen, clad in a saffron robe and his face smeared with sandalwood, arrived at the booth before lunch but election commission rules mean the booth must stay operational until the evening, even without another human for miles around.
The law also requires each polling booth to be helmed by at least six polling staff and two police officers.
“In a democracy, every single person is important,” said Padhiyar Sursinh, the presiding officer in Una, a town 65 kilometres (40 miles) away from Banej.
“It is our duty to ensure no one is denied his right to vote even if it means undertaking an arduous journey like this,” he told AFP.
After nearly three hours of travel in sweltering temperatures touching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), the team made its way to a remote forest department office where a polling booth was set up.
Sursinh and his team stayed overnight in the sparse building, sleeping on floors and having a simple meal of bread and lentils.
“We had to set up everything a day in advance so that the booth could be opened early morning at 07:00 am according to the electoral rules,” said Sursinh.
“There’s no cellphone network, so there is no room for errors here.”
Udaseen said he loved the sights and sounds of the forest and was grateful for the fuss being made over his electoral rights.
“I am loving the attention that I am getting as a lone voter in the forest,” he said.
“It shows the power of democracy and makes me feel like the most important person in the world.”
Delhi court extends Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody till May 20
May 7, 2024 03:30 PM (GMT+6)
![Delhi court extends Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody till May 20](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Delhi-court-extends-Arvind-Kejriwals-judicial-custody-till-May-20.jpeg)
Delhi court extends Arvind Kejriwal’s judicial custody till May 20
A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal till May 20 in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. Kejriwal was produced before the court via video conferencing on the expiry of his custody granted earlier.
The order coincided with the hearing in the Supreme Court on Arvind Kejriwal’s challenge to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the liquor policy case. The two-judge bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta had expressed that it might consider the question of interim bail for Kejriwal. The judges asserted that the situation was “extraordinary” as Lok Sabha elections are held once every five years.
A voter casts his vote through his feet in Gujarat
May 7, 2024 02:50 PM (GMT+6)
Ankit Soni, a voter, casts his vote through his feet at a polling booth in Nadiad, Gujarat
He said, “I lost both my hands due to electric shock 20 years ago. With the blessings of my teachers and guru, I did my graduation, CS… I appeal to people to come out and vote. “
40% Polling Till 1 pm As 93 Seats Vote In Phase 3
May 7, 2024 02:30AM (GMT+6)
![40% Polling Till 1 pm As 93 Seats Vote In Phase 3](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/40-Polling-Till-1-pm-As-93-Seats-Vote-In-Phase-3.jpeg)
40% Polling Till 1 pm As 93 Seats Vote In Phase 3
India’s Top court Hearing jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea
May 7, 2024 02:00AM (GMT+6)
![India’s Top court Hearing jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Indias-Top-court-Hearing-jailed-Delhi-CM-Arvind-Kejriwals-bail-plea.jpeg)
India’s Top court Hearing jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s bail plea
India’s Supreme Court hearing Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court said that if it grants interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal, he cannot function as the chief minister as it will have “cascading effect” on other issues. “We are on the issue of propriety today, not on legality. We do not want anything to affect the functioning of the government,” the court noted.
Kejriwal was arrested on corruption charges days before India’s seven-phase national election began on April 19.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the allegations related to a liquor policy implemented by Kejriwal’s government in 2022.
The 55-year-old chief minister has denied any wrongdoing.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phase 3 In Pictures
![A family after voting in Saharsa, Bihar.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A-family-after-voting-in-Saharsa-Bihar.jpg)
![Actor Riteish Deshmukh and his wife Genelia Deshmukh cast votes at a polling booth in phase 3 polling in Latur, Maharashtra.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Actor-Riteish-Deshmukh-and-his-wife-Genelia-Deshmukh-cast-votes-at-a-polling-booth-in-phase-3-polling-in-Latur-Maharashtra.jpg)
![People wait in queue to cast their votes during third phase of Lok Sabha election](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/People-wait-in-queue-to-cast-their-votes-during-third-phase-of-Lok-Sabha-election.jpg)
![Children hold India's ruling BJP party’s symbol before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival to cast his vote. Reuters photo.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Children-hold-Indias-ruling-BJP-partys-1.jpg)
![Polling staff in traditional attire to attract voters for third Phase of India’s General Elections 2024 in Karnataka. Photo: ECI.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Polling-staff-in-traditional-attire-to-attract-voters-for-third-Phase-of-Indias-General-Elections-2024.jpg)
![People from the Jat community wait in lines to cast their votes at a polling booth set up inside a shipping container at Aaliya Bet island in the western state of Gujarat, India, on May 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/People-from-the-Jat-community-wait-in-lines-to-cast-their-votes-at-a-polling-booth-set-up-inside-a-shipping-contaner.jpg)
![Voters were gifted tree plants after they cast their votes at a polling booth in Gandhigram area of Junagadh on Tuesday.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Voters-were-gifted-tree-plants-after-they-cast-their-votes.jpg)
![Five generations of a family vote in Chhattisgarh (ECI)](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Five-generations-of-a-family-vote-in-Chhattisgarh-ECI.jpg)
Adani group chairman Gautam Adani casts his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad
May 7, 2024 12:30AM (GMT+6)
![Adani group chairman Gautam Adani casts his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Adani-group-chairman-Gautam-Adani-casts-his-vote-at-a-polling-booth-in-Ahmedabad.jpeg)
Adani group chairman Gautam Adani casts his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad
Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, exercised his democratic right by casting his vote at a polling booth in the Mahmadpura Primary School, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, during the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Adani emphasised India’s forward march and urged citizens to participate in the democratic process.
#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Adani group chairman Gautam Adani casts his vote for #LokSabhaElections2024 at a polling booth in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/WtAReLEodg
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024
You Can Also Read: WHY NARENDRA MODI COULD WIN 2024 WITH BIGGER MANDATE
India's election participation has improved since 1952
May 7, 2024 12:00AM (GMT+6)
As 93 seats go to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha Election today, voter turnout will again be under scrutiny. However, the data shows India’s election participation has improved over the years since its first general election in 1952.
![India's election participation has improved since 1952](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Indias-election-participation-has-improved-since-1952.jpeg)
India’s election participation has improved since 1952
Lok Sabha Phase 3 Voting: 10.5% voter turnout recorded till 9 am
May 7, 2024 11:40AM (GMT+6)
![Lok Sabha Phase 3 Voting 10.5% voter turnout recorded till 9 am](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lok-Sabha-Phase-3-Voting-10.5-voter-turnout-recorded-till-9-am.jpeg)
Lok Sabha Phase 3 Voting 10.5% voter turnout recorded till 9 am
Who are the key candidates in Phase 3?
![Amit Shah: The minister of home affairs and Modi’s right-hand man is seeking re-election from Gandhinagar in Gujarat state.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Amit-Shah.jpg)
Amit Shah:
The minister of home affairs and Modi’s right-hand man is seeking re-election from Gandhinagar in Gujarat state.
![Jyotiraditya Scindia: The federal minister of civil aviation and steel and grandson of the last ruler of the former princely state of Gwalior is contesting from the family bastion of Guna in Madhya Pradesh state.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jyotiraditya-Scindia.jpg)
Jyotiraditya Scindia
The federal minister of civil aviation and steel and grandson of the last ruler of the former princely state of Gwalior is contesting from the family bastion of Guna in Madhya Pradesh state.
![Pralhad Joshi: Current union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines of India. He is contesting from Karnataka's Dharwad.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pralhad-joshi.jpg)
Pralhad Joshi
Current union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines of India. He is contesting from Karnataka's Dharwad.
![Shivraj Singh Chouhan: The BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is contesting from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/shivraj-singh-chouhan.jpg)
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is contesting from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
![Digvijaya Singh: The former General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Party’s All India Congress Committee is now contesting from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Digvijaya-Singh.jpg)
Digvijaya Singh
The former General Secretary of the Indian National Congress Party’s All India Congress Committee is now contesting from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh.
![Dimple Yadav: Incumbent member of parliament from Mainpuri of Uttar Pradesh and leader of Samajwadi Party. She is contesting from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Dimple-Yadav.jpg)
Dimple Yadav
Incumbent member of parliament from Mainpuri of Uttar Pradesh and leader of Samajwadi Party. She is contesting from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh.
![Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: Congress's leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is contesting from Baharampur, West Bengal.](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Adhir-Ranjan-Chowdhury.jpg)
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Congress's leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is contesting from Baharampur, West Bengal.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge casts vote
May 07, 2024 11:00AM (GMT+6)
![Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge casts vote](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Congress-President-Mallikarjun-Kharge-casts-vote.jpg)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge casts vote
The president of Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge has cast his vote at a polling booth in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi. His son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani is taking on BJP sitting MP Umesh Jadhav from this seat. Kharge lost the polls from his home turf in 2019 general elections.
PM Modi casts his vote
May 07, 2024 10:00AM (GMT+6)
![Narendra Modi casts vote in Ahmedabad](https://pressxpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM-Modi-casts-his-vote-in-Third-Phase-of-India-Election.jpg)
Narendra Modi casts vote in Ahmedabad
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in a school in his home state Gujarat’s Ahmedabad today. He was welcomed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he arrived at the Nishan Higher Secondary School.
After voting, PM Modi was seen showing his inked finger outside the polling booth. He also greeted people lined up outside the polling booth and spoke to media persons. He told them to take care of their health in the ongoing heatwave and urged voters to celebrate the “festival of democracy”.
“Today is the third phase of voting. There is great importance of ‘Daan’ (donation) in our country and in the same spirit, the countrymen should vote as much as possible… As a voter in Gujarat, this is the only place where I vote regularly…” he said.
Voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections! Urging everyone to do so as well and strengthen our democracy. pic.twitter.com/PlLCw7Fwe3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2024
What Is Happening Today?
May 07, 2024 09:00AM (GMT+6)
Voting is on in 93 constituencies across 11 states and a Union Territory in the third phase today of the staggered seven-round Lok Sabha polls. The election in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency in Jammu and Kashmir has been postponed to May 25.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted this morning at a polling booth in Ahmedabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, too, cast their votes. An average turnout of 10.5 per cent was recorded at 9 am, two hours after voting began.
The Phase 3 election is in areas that are BJP strongholds. In 2019, the party won 72 of the 92 seats going to polls today, 26 of them in Gujarat alone.
The states going to polls in phase 3 include Assam (4 seats), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Goa (2), Gujarat (26), Karnataka (14), Madhya Pradesh (8), Maharashtra (11), Uttar Pradesh (10), West Bengal (4), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2).
Polling will also take place in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, where the election due on Phase 2 was postponed following the death of a candidate from Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party.
Key candidates for this phase includes Union ministers Amit Shah from Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna, Madhya Pradesh, Pralhad Joshi from Karnataka’s Dharwad and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
The key Opposition members in the fray include Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh; Congress’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur, West Bengal, and Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh; NCP’s Supriya Sule from Maharashtra’s Baramati. Perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal of AIDUF is contesting from Assam’s Dhubri. The next phase of election is due on May 13. The counting of votes will be held on June 4 after the last phase of the election ends on June 1.
Welcome to our live coverage as Indians begins voting for the phase 3 of the Lok Sabha polls
May 07, 2024 08:30AM (GMT+6)
Hello and thank you for joining us as polling opens for the third phase of India’s multiphase election.
Voting started at 7am (01:30 GMT) across the country and will end at 6pm (12:30 GMT).
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 from Bangladesh will bring you exclusive coverage of the elections. Stay Tuned!
You Can Also Check Phase 2: