Lok Sabha Elections 2019 phase 5: 61.72% voting, EVM snags, violence and tension in WB, Kashmir reported

Polling for the Phase 5 Lok Sabha Elections took place in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. The polling was marred by tension and violence in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir: Clashes erupted at many places on Monday between mobs and security forces after the elections ended in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat with a dismal voter turnout of 3 per cent. Hardly any voters approached the polling stations in Shopian, Wachi, Rajpora, Pulwama and Tral segments of Anantnag in Kashmir. Militants added to the tension by hurling a grenade at the Rohmoo polling station which exploded but without causing any damage. But it sparked fear among those who may have ventured out to vote.

Living miles away from their native place for the past three decades, displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Monday voted with the hope for an end to terrorism and peaceful return to their homeland.

In Ladakh however, voting was brisk. Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency saw a 51.9% voter turnout. The overall voter turnout in both Anantnag and Ladakh constituencies was 15.2%. Total voter turnout came to about 17.7%

West Bengal: From two BJP candidates getting attacked and bombs being hurled indiscriminately to political workers smashing an EVM and reports of large scale intimidation coming in from different places-- violence yet again marred polling in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal on Monday. A total voter turnout of about 75% was reported here.

After reports of violence and death of a voter in the previous phases, the Election Commission has decided that all the polling stations in the state will be manned by the central forces. Altogether, 578 companies of central forces have been mobilised to assist the state police.

Rajasthan: About 63.37% voter turnout was recorded on Monday in 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan where two former Olympians are among the 134 candidates in the fray. A total of 2.30 crore voters across these 12 constituencies are eligible to decide the fate of the 134 candidates, among whom 16 are women. As many as 23,738 polling stations have been set up in the state for the smooth conduct of the polls.

Bihar: A estimated 44.28% of over 87.66 lakh voters exercised their franchise in five Lok Sabha constituencies during the fifth phase of polling in Bihar on Monday. Total voter turnout here was about 57.76%.

A total of 87,66,722 voters would decide the fate of 82 candidates.

Polling took place in the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur with few incidents of EVM malfunctioning and poll boycott reported from a couple of places.

Uttar Pradesh: Over 55.52% voter turnout was recorded Monday till 5 pm in 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh where Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi are in the fray.

Among early voters in the state capital included Home Minister Singh, BSP supremo Mayawati, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, DGP OP Singh and Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar.

Election Commission of India officials said polling went on smoothly, barring some complaints of EVM malfunctioning which were attended to immediately.

Jharkhand: Jharkhand on Monday recorded about 64.23% voter turnout for the four parliamentary constituencies, an official said. Long queues of voters were seen in front of booths in all the four Lok Sabha constituencies. There was a good voter turnout despite the fact that all the four seats, particularly Khuti, are Maoist-affected areas.

A total of 61 candidates are in the fray for the four seats -- 14 in Koderma, 20 in Ranchi, 11 in Khunti and 16 in Hazaribagh.

The prominent candidates in the race for these seats are Rajkumar Yadav of the CPI(ML), Babulal Marandi of JVM(P) and Annapurna Devi of the BJP in Koderma; Sanjay Seth of the BJP and Subodhkant Sahai of the Congress in Ranchi; Arjun Munda of the BJP and Kalicharan Munda of the Congress in Khunti and Jayant Sinha of the BJP, Gopal Sahu of the Congress and Bhuneshwar Prasad Mehta of the CPI in Hazaribagh.

Madhya Pradesh: The total voter turnout recorded here was more than 63.51% .

Voter turnout percentage mentioned is till 7 pm. It may increase in the final update by Election Commission of India