As swathes of north India stewed in brutal heat during the peak of summer, voter apathy continued in the fifth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with voter turnout recorded at 57.46 per cent (tentative until 8:30 pm) in 49 constituencies across six States and two Union Territories. This phase saw sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal and a poll boycott in a village in Uttar Pradesh.

The highest polling percentage was in West Bengal (73 per cent), while the lowest was in Maharashtra (49.04 per cent). This was the smallest phase in terms of the number of constituencies for which voting took place.

Low voter turnout in the fifth phase sent political parties, including the BJP, into a tizzy.

After Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, one of the 49 seats voting in the fifth phase registered 54. 49 per cent voter turnout seems heading for the highest turnout in the last eight Lok Sabha elections.

This is a record of sorts for the constituency in north Kashmir for any general election held so far. The best turnout in the last thirty-five year history of polling in Baramulla seat was 61.09 per cent, in the 1984 general elections.  This comes after Srinagar recorded 38.49 per cent polling during the fourth phase. Baramulla is one of the three seats in the Kashmir division of J&K-other than Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri-where the BJP  has not fielded any candidates. In 2019, the constituency recorded a turnout of 34.6 per cent, whereas in 1989, it was at a mere 5.48 per cent, the commission said.

As per the EC’s voter turnout App, Ladakh recorded at 67.15 per cent, Jharkhand at 63.00 per cent and Bihar 52.60 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 54.67 per cent, Odisha 60.72 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 57.79 per cent.

In Maharashtra, the Dindori seat recorded highest voter turnout of 57.06 per cent , Bhiwandi recorded 49.43 per cent, Dhule  48.81 per cent, Dindori 57.06 per cent, Kalyan 41.70 per cent, Mumbai North 46.91 per cent, Mumbai North Central 47.46 per cent, Mumbai North East 48.67 per cent, Mumbai North West 49.79 per cent, Mumbai South 44.63 per cent, Mumbai South Central 48.26 per cent, Nashik 51.16 per cent, Palghar 54.32 per cent, Thane 48.04 per cent and Kalyan 41.70 per cent

In 14 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh, Amethi and Raebareli, two well-known constituencies in the State recorded voter turnout at 54.17 per cent and 57.85 per cent respectively. Union Minister Smriti Irani from the BJP is contesting here while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Raebareli.

After the fifth round of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, the Congress on Monday said only 15 days remain for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s departure, claiming that winds of change are blowing across the country and the INDIA Opposition Bloc is set to sweep the ruling NDA away.

Modi has alleged that poor campaigning by the Congress and its allies could be a reason for low voter turnout in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls with even their party workers not turning out to vote for them and this could politically benefit the BJP.

Scattered incidents of violence marred the polls in seven parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal where TMC and BJP workers clashed in various parts of Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh seats. The poll panel said it has received 1,036 complaints from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctioning and agents being stopped from entering booths.

In a social media post, the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress, said, “Booth number 5, Rasulpur in Sareni in Rae Bareli is closed since 8 am (and) voters are going back. So this is how (the target of) 400 (seats) will be crossed!”

Samajwadi Party candidate from Gonda constituency Shreya Verma complained to the Election Commission that fair polling is not taking place at booth numbers 180 and 181 in the Mankapur area.

In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed there were a lot of complaints from electors about facilities outside polling booths.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Sunil Raut were found involved in “corrupt practices” outside their polling booth at Bhandup in Mumbai.

The former MP also claimed that two activists of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) were arrested for “illegal and corrupt practices of using a fake EVM”.