Page 16 - 31MAY2019E

CoverStory

Sixth phase of general

elections see 63% votes

against the 2014 figure of 63.69 per
Nearly 979 candidates were in the fray for the 59 constituencies cent. West Bengal, which witnessed
that went to polls in the second-last phase of the seven-phased more political violence in the latest
round of voting, topped the chart with
Lok Sabha polls, reports Tehelka bureau 80.39 per cent voting.
The national capital witnessed a dip
ore than 63 per cent In 2014, the polling percentage was in turnout compared to the 2014 figure
voters exercised their 57.25, while till 6 pm on Sunday, the of 65.1 per cent, with Delhi’s chief elec-
voting right on May 12 percentage was 59.38, more than two toral officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh saying
for the sixth and penul- per cent increase. For the 14 seats in it did not meet expectations.
M timate phase of the 2019 Uttar Pradesh, the polling percentage While the provisional turnout figure
Lok Sabha election. The last phase of was 54.12 per cent. In 2014, the seats re- for Delhi was lower than the figure of
polls will be on May 19 and the counting corded a turnout of 54.53 per cent. the previous general elections, it was
will take place on May 23. Nearly 979 the third-highest since 1977, accord-
candidates were in the fray for the 59 Triangular contest in Delhi ing to official data. The voting percent-
constituencies that went to polls in this Delhi’s seven Lok Sabha seats logged age may go up after more details are
phase. In 2014, the voting percentage of 60.17 per cent polling in the sixth round received, the commission said.
these constituencies was 63.67. of the general elections across 59 con- The East Delhi seat recorded 59.63
In Delhi, the last election recorded stituencies on Sunday, with North East per cent voting, followed by New Delhi
65. 1 per cent votes. The poll officials Delhi recording the highest figure of and South Delhi, which saw 56.9 per
said the turnout was better than the 63.41 per cent as the Capital’s electorate cent and 58.59 per cent polling respec-
2009 elections and hoped that it will sealed its verdict in the triangular con- tively. West Delhi logged 60.64 per cent
increase as polling stations witnessed test between the Bharatiya Janata Party voting, while North West Delhi record-
long queues even at 6 pm on Sunday. (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and ed a turnout of 58.97 per cent. Chandni
The State had 30,819 polling stations the Congress. Chowk saw a turnout of 62.68 per cent.
with 1.43 crore eligible voters in the list. The Election Commission said that In Faridabad and Gurgaon, the voter
the overall provisional turnout for turnouts were 64.48 per cent and 67.38
State-wise turnout Phase 6 was 63.67 per cent till 10pm per cent respectively. Union minister
In the 10 seats of Haryana, the percent- Rao Inderjit Singh is seeking re-elec-
age was 62.19. In 2014, it was 71.86 per Congress leader tion from Gurgaon, while Krishan Pal
cent. The State has about 1.79 crore vot- Gurjar is in the fray from the Faridabad
ers, out of which 83.36 lakh are women. Digvijaya Singh, who Lok Sabha seat.
Madhya Pradesh witnessed 60.06 per is contesting the Lok The polling in Delhi came days
cent turnout, which is about four per after the AAP and the Congress were
cent higher than the turnout in 2014 Sabha polls from engaged in protracted talks to stitch up
(56.81 per cent). There were 1.44 crore Bhopal seat in Madhya an alliance but failed to strike a consen-
voters in the list. sus to take on the BJP, which currently
In Jharkhand, four seats — Dhanbad, Pradesh, was called holds all seven seats in the national
Giridih, Jamshedpur, Singhbhum — capital.
went to booths in this phase. The State out by BJP leaders, In 2009, the Congress had won in all
witnessed 65.17 turnout on May 12. In including Modi for not parliamentary constituencies in Delhi.
2014, the turnout was 64.53 per cent. In Among those who voted in the national
West Bengal, where elections were held voting on May 12 in capital on Sunday were President Ram
for eight seats, the polling percentage the sixth round of the Nath Kovind, Congress president Rahul
was 79.93. In 2014, the figure was 84.98. Gandhi, United Progressive Alliance
In Bihar, too, eight seats faced polls. national election chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and exter-

Tehelka / 31 may 2019 16 www.Tehelka.com