- Tuesday, May 07, 2024
Two major states that both Modi’s BJP and opposition Congress focused on in the latest phase are Karnataka and Kerala.
By: Shubham Ghosh
POLLING was conducted in 88 parliamentary constituencies in the second phase of India’s general elections on Friday (26) amid a heated political ambience and according to sources in the country’s Election Commission, a little over 64 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the latest phase.
It is less than the 69.45 per cent turnout which was registered in the second phase of the 2019 general elections when 95 constituencies went to polls.
Polling was held in 13 states and Union Territories of India in the second phase, including the two southern states of Karnataka (partially) and Kerala (fully).
Prime minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a rare third consecutive term in this election, said in a post on X, “Phase Two has been too good! Gratitude to the people across India who have voted today. The unparalleled support for NDA is going to disappoint the Opposition even more. Voters want NDA’s good governance. Youth and women voters are powering the strong NDA support.”
Read: India top court rejects plea to change vote-counting process
NDA stands for the National Democratic Alliance, which is led by Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
The second phase of the polling originally included 89 seats but voting in the constituency of Betul in the central state of Madhya Pradesh was rescheduled to May 7 (third phase) due to the death of a candidate.
Read: North-South splits make ruling BJP’s majority hard to predict
The phase saw some key candidates in the fray, including Indian National Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, Bhupesh Baghal, among others. For the BJP, some big names that contested are federal minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, actors Hema Malini and Arun Govil and youth leader Tejasvi Surya. Om Birla, speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Lower House of the parliament, was also contesting in this phase.
In Karnataka, both the NDA and the opposition INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) are hoping to do well. While the NDA has done well in the state in the past few national polls, the Congress won power in the state in last year’s assembly elections.
In Kerala, too, the BJP is aiming to win its first seat by breaking the traditional bipolar politics between the Congress and the Left. The BJP’s ambition to win 370 seats (400 plus for NDA) will need a boost to its tally in the southern parts where it has remained a fringe player except Karnataka.
The election is also gradually heating up along with the mercury. Recently, the BJP and the Congress locked horns over remarks made by Modi at a rally in the north-western state of Maharashtra where he allegedly targeted Muslims and accused the opposition party of appeasing the minority sentiments. He also accused the Congress of planning to loot people’s money and property, something the Congress vehemently protested.
The third phase of the election will be held after a gap of 11 days — on May 7. The first phase was held on April 26.
The counting of votes will be held on June 4 – three days after the seventh and final phase is held on June 1.
