LS Polls Phase 3: Cop Dies in J&K as Mob Pelts Stone on Vehicle

Voting has concluded in 39 constituencies across eight states in the north and northeast India in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The Election Commission said that the interim voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh was recorded to be 52.74%, 78.29% in Assam, 59.97% in Bihar.

In West Bengal, where one person was killed in a crossfire, the turnout was 79.36 percent.

Four seats in Assam, five seats in Bihar, seven seats in Chhattisgarh, six seats in Odisha, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, five seats in West Bengal, and one seat each in Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura are polling.

Catch all the live updates for constituencies voting in South India here and Western states here.

Polling in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly segments coming under these constituencies will be held on Tuesday, 23 April, under tight security.

For the ruling BJD, party president and state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, seeking a fifth term this time, was at the centre stage undertaking extensive tours of the poll-bound areas and holding roadshows.

While the Congress and the BJP accused the BJD of having failed to ensure development in the state despite being in power for 19 years, the ruling party charged the two parties with adopting step-motherly approach towards Odisha and ignoring its genuine demands.

In Puri, Pinaki Mishra is facing a stiff challenge from BJP's national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

The third phase of polling on 23 April will mark the completion of Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Total 123 candidates are in the fray in seven Lok Sabha seats Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir-Champa (SC), Surguja (ST) and Raigarh (ST) – that will go to polls in the third phase, state chief electoral officer (CEO) Subrat Sahoo said in a statement.

"The campaign for the seven seats ended at 5 pm on Sunday," he said.

Raipur and Bilaspur seats have the maximum 25 candidates each, followed by Durg - 21, Jangir-Champa - 15, Raigarh -14, Korba - 13 and Surguja -10, he said.

Total 1,27,13,816 voters, including 64,16,252 men, 62,96,992 women and 572 members of third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the third phase for which 15,408 polling booths have been set up.

Dhubri, Barpeta and Gauhati constituencies on Tuesday, 23 April, to decide the fate of 54 candidates, including nine women.

There are two sitting MPs-AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal in Dhubri and independent Naba Sarania in Kokrajhar – besides state social welfare minister Pramila Rani Brahma of the BPF in Kokrajhar and Congress MLA Abdul Khaleque in the fray.

The campaign for this phase was mostly characterised by public rallies, roadside meetings and door-to-door visits. An electorate of 77,0622, including 38,15,335 men, 36,61,570 women and 157 of the third gender, will be eligible to exercise their franchise in 9,577 polling booths.

A high-voltage poll campaign for the third phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh which will decide the electoral fate of SP stalwarts Mulayam Singh Yadav and Azam Khan, besides that of BJP candidate and film actor Jaya Prada, among others, ended Sunday, 22 April, evening.

The BJP has a huge stake in this phase in Uttar Pradesh with the party having won seven out of the ten seats in the region in 2014, leaving three for the Samajwadi Party, but facing a tough challenge from SP-BSP-RLD combine here.

The third-phase campaigning saw an unprecedented spectacle of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati sharing dais in Mainpuri after burying their hatchet after 24 years of Lucknow state guest house episode involving an attack by SP workers on Mayawati for withdrawing support from the Samajwadi Party-led government.

Five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar – Madhepura, Supaul, Araria, Jhanjharpur and Khagaria will go to polls in the third phase of general elections on 23 April.

The BJPs ally JD(U), headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has fielded state minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav from Madhepura seat, which also happens to be the birth place of Mandal Commission architect B P Mandal.

The seat has become a prestige issue for Nitish Kumar who stayed several consecutive nights in the district, covering other constituencies during the daytime, understandably preparing strategy to ensure that his candidate does not lose to associate-turned-adversary Sharad Yadav, who revolted when the party boss decided to return to the BJP-led NDA a couple of years ago.

High-octane campaigning by political parties, including roadshows and speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal on 23 April, concluded on Sunday, 22 April.

The constituencies which go to polls on Tuesday are Balurghat, Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur and Murshidabad.

All the five seats will see a four-cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front.

An electorate of 8,023,852 will decide the fate of 61 candidates in these parliamentary constituencies.

The Election Commission had postponed voting in the constituency to the third phase on 23 April, saying the prevailing law-and-order situation there was not conducive for holding free and fair polls.

East Tripura constituency is spread across 30 assembly segments and six districts, where an electorate of 12,54,944 will decide the fate of 10 candidates, including those of the ruling BJP, the Congress and the CPI(M).

Ruling BJP candidate Rebati Mohan Tripura, sitting MP Jitendra Chowdhury of the CPI(M) and Pragya Dev Burman of the Congress are among those contesting from the seat.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti said a total of 1,645 polling stations have been set up, of which 30 are all-women booths. The BSF has also intensified vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border, which would be completely sealed ahead of polling.

People queue up outside polling station in Assam’s Dubri to cast their votes.

Voters queue outside polling booth in Kotwali Junior Basic School, in West Bengal’s Malda; 5 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state are voting in the third phase of general elections today.

Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav cast his vote at polling booth number 228 in Saifai, in Mainpuri Parliamentary constituency.

Voting began on a dull note in Anantnag district of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, PTI reported quoting official sources.

Polling will be held in three legs, amidst tight security measures.

Residents in most parts of the district in restive south Kashmir have stayed indoors so far, an official said.

The voting will be held in south Kashmir areas from 7 am to 4 pm.

There are 18 candidates in the fray for Anantnag constituency including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti.

The Congress has fielded its state president Ghulam Ahmad Mir while former High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi is contesting on the National Conference ticket.

The other prominent candidate in the fray is former MLC Sofi Yousuf of BJP.

The voter turnout in the five seats of Bihar till 8 am stands as follows:

• Jhanjharpur: 4.50%
• Supaul: 4%
• Araria: 3%
• Madhepura: 5%
• Khagaria: 5%

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi urges voters to come out and vote in large numbers.

Former IAS officer and BJP MP candidate from Bhubaneswar, Aparajita Sarangi casts her vote at polling booth in Government Primary School, IRC village, Bhubaneswar.

She is up against former IPS officer and BJD candidate Arup Patnaik.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan casts his vote at a polling booth in Talcher.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik casts his vote at a polling booth in Bhubaneswar.

Younger brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Abhay Singh Yadav, after casting his vote at a polling booth in Saifai, Mainpuri.

Voting underway at polling booth in Government Higher Senior Secondary School in Khanabal in Anantnag.

Congress alleges that their agent in Khargram Jangipur was beaten up and thrown out of a booth.

SP leader Abdullah Azam Khan has alleged that nearly 300 EVMs are not working in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur and people are facing problems while voting.

Rampur’s District Magistrate, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh has refuted claims made by the Samajwadi Party leader Abdullah Azam Khan that nearly 300 EVMs are not working in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur.

Singh told ANI, “There is no problem anywhere, these are all rumours. Initially some EVMs and VVPATs had operational issues but everything was sorted quickly, voting underway smoothly.”

A BJP worker thrashed an election official at booth number 231 in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad alleging that the official was asking voters to press the ‘cycle’ symbol of Samajwadi Party.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday alleged that EVMs were "malfunctioning or voting for the BJP" across the country, terming it 'criminal negligence'.

"EVMs across India malfunctioning or voting for the BJP. DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs Rs 50,000 crs (sic),” Yadav tweeted.

TMC workers have alleged that Congress and left front workers tried to capture a booth in Murshidabad’s Lochanpur.

When TMC workers tried to resist them, they were allegedly beaten up. Several have been injured and are in a government hospital in Islampur. Meanwhile, Congress had countered this claim saying that the incident was orchestrated by the TMC and that the allegations are baseless.

After casting his vote, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “We have said what we had to say in favour of the party and our candidates, now voters will decide. They are the real judge.”

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti casts her vote at polling booth number-37D in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.

A man, Pyarul Abul Kalam, standing in a queue to vote was killed in clashes between Congress and TMC workers in Baligram, Murshidabad, as reported by ANI.

Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh leaves after casting his vote at a polling booth in Dispur in Assam.

A polling official at booth number 41 in Kantapal village in Dhenkanal passes away, after collapsing while on duty, reports ANI.

Babulal Murmu, a polling officer was found hanging in his house in South Dinajpur in West Bengal.

He committed suicide last night. His wife alleged that he was under pressure. He was disturbed because of developments that has happened in Bengal in the last two phases. No complaint against anyone has been filed as of yet.

Unidentified men hurled a bomb near polling booth no-27,28 in Murshidabad's Raninagar area, reports ANI.

Samajwadi Party leader and SP-BSP-RLD candidate from Rampur, Azam Khan, and his son Abdullah Azam Khan, cast their vote at a polling station in the district, reports ANI.

The chief electoral officer here has sought details from district magistrates after 11 third phase Lok Sabha candidates were found seeking votes on social media in the 48 hours before polls on Tuesday, 23 April.

According to the office of a Chief Electoral Officer, five candidates of the BJP, four of the SP-BSP alliance and two of the Congress have been found using social media in the past 48 hours, even though the electioneering period had ended.

A BJP workers beat an Election Official at booth number 231 in Moradabad alleging he was asking voters to press the 'cycle' symbol of Samajwadi party, reports ANI.

The voter turnout in Chhattisgarh was 55.29 percent till 3 pm on Tuesday for seven seats during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Initially, a low turnout was witnessed at the polling booths, but as the voting progressed, people came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise, despite the scorching heat, an election official said.

District authorities on Tuesday raided a house here after the Samajwadi Party complained that a state minister was violating poll rules and camping in the constituency from where his daughter is contesting.

Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya was not found at the house, but the SP nominee Dharmendra Yadav persisted with his allegation.

Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, said, "VVPAT of Polling Station No 196 of 87-Badamba Assembly Constituency was changed after commencement of actual poll, due to some error. 134 votes had been polled in the machine by then. Concerned Sector Officer reached booth with replacement VVPAT."

“VVPAT meant for Parliamentary constituency was mistakenly attached to Control & Ballot Unit meant for Assembly constituency during replacement. Error was detected after 22 votes were polled. Polling adjourned immediately; recommendation to be made to ECI for fresh poll," said CEO.

BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Kendrapara, Baijayant Jay Panda, casts his vote at Booth 19 in Bhubaneswar.

A poll official, Hilal Ahmad Khan died in Kokernag, Anantnag in J&K on Tuesday, 23 April, after the bus he was travelling in rolled over.

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits staged demonstration outside a special polling station here Tuesday after some of them found their names missing from the voters list during the first phase of the three-phased poling in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.

However, Assistant Returning Officer Pankaj Anand said the election office has made sure that no voter, who has filled the M-form, is left out as over 4,000 electorates including 1826 women cast their ballots at the designated polling centres in Jammu.

A police vehicle overturns as mob pelts it with stones in Kokernag, cop dead, said an official.

Home turf of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, the Bijbehara assembly segment under the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, reported highest concentration of polling stations where zero votes were cast.

Among the 65 booths in Anantnag where zero votes were cast, 40 were located in Bijbehara, one of the six assembly constituencies where voting took place in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections Tuesday.

The first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Anantnag seat concluded on Tuesday peacefully but with a dismal voter turnout of around 13 percent. People in the district showed indifference towards the polls with two major towns Anantnag and Bijbehara recording only 3 and less than two percent of polling, respectively.

The higher reaches like Pahalgam, Kokernag, Shangus, Dooru and some other places recorded a decent turnout. Pahalgam witnessed a decent 20 percent turnout, the highest on Tuesday.

Nearly 66 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday, the Election Commission said.

In the third phase, voting was held in 116 Lok Sabha seats, including all constituencies in Gujarat and Kerala, with BJP president Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and several Union ministers among prominent candidates in the fray.

Voter turnout in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections is 65.61 per cent till 8.00 pm, a mobile application launched by the EC said.

A vehicle carrying polling staff after the voting concluded in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag seat met with an accident Tuesday, killing a police constable and injuring four others, officials said.

The accident occurred in Kokernag area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district this evening, a police official said.