59% countrywide voter turnout

New Delhi, May 25: The nation-wide sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls saw a voter turnout of 59.08 percent, according to provisional data of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

As per the data, West Bengal saw highest voter turnout at 78.19 percent followed by 62.87 percent voting in Jharkhand, 60.07 percent in Odisha, 58.37 percent in Haryana, 54.52 percent in Delhi, 54.03 percent in Uttar Pradesh, 53.42 percent in Bihar, and 52.28 percent in J&K.

In Phase 6 of the parliamentary polls, a total of 889 candidates were in the fray.

Campaigning for these seats ended on Thursday.

After this phase, only 57 constituencies remain for the final phase of polling on June 1.

So far, voting has been completed in 25 states and Union Territories, covering 428 constituencies out of the total 543.

The final phase of the India general election 2024 is scheduled for June 1, with vote counting set to take place on June 4.

The ECI released constituency-wise data for the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

In a statement, the ECI reaffirmed its commitment to electoral democracy following the Supreme Court’s observations and verdict on the turnout data release.

“This brings upon the ECI a higher responsibility to serve the cause of electoral democracy with undeterred resolution,” the statement read.

Today's polling covered seven seats in Delhi, 10 in Haryana, eight each in Bihar and West Bengal, six in Odisha, four in Jharkhand, and 14 in Uttar Pradesh.

J&K also completed their election schedule with voting in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, moved from the third to the sixth phase.

During the polling in Poonch district's Mendhar sub-division, a clash between supporters of two candidates resulted in minor injuries to half a dozen individuals, including four women.

However, voting continued uninterrupted as Police intervened and dispersed the clashing groups.

Polling in Haryana, Delhi, and J&K concluded today, with voting in Delhi and Haryana conducted in a single phase.

Simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held in Odisha.

In Delhi, despite soaring temperatures, voter enthusiasm remained high.

At a polling station in Rajouri Garden, a voter noted officials' visible fatigue due to the heat, suggesting the provision of more facilities for them.

Another voter recommended including pigeonholes for storing mobile phones outside polling stations for those arriving on foot or via public transport.

Prominent figures, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, cast their votes in Delhi.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as Left party leaders, were seen voting early in the day.

Other notable voters included Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Minister Atishi, and several top businesspersons and bureaucrats.

Delhi's maximum temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius, contributing to heavy voter turnout in West Delhi and North East Delhi constituencies.

Sporadic violence marred the sixth phase of the elections in West Bengal.

A panchayat-level leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was killed in East Midnapore district on Friday night, with five suspects detained.

This was the second murder in Tamluk within 72 hours, following the killing of a BJP woman worker and the severe injury of her son, a local BJP leader, on Thursday.

The ECI has requested reports from the relevant authorities.

Apart from these incidents, no major untoward events were reported.