Reported By:
| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Apr 29, 2019, 08:17 PM IST
There was brisk voting on Monday with reports of sporadic violence in Bengal. Union Minister Babul Supriyo got into an altercation with the polling officer. Supriyo’s car was also attacked and windshield broken. A Zee Media vehicle was also caught in the cross-fire as BJP and TMC cadre clashed.
Meanwhile, SP wrote a letter to the EC claiming EVMs malfunctioned.
Highlights from various states:
There was brisk voting on Monday with reports of violence in Bengal. Union Minister Babul Supriyo got into an altercation with the polling officer. Supriyo’s car was also attacked and windshield broken. A Zee Media vehicle was also caught in the cross-fire as BJP and TMC cadre clashed.
West Bengal
Voting began amid incidents of violence in West Bengal, where an estimated 34.71 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 11 am on Monday in eight Lok Sabha constituencies, election officials said.
Central Forces were forced to open fire to a disperse a mob in Durbhajpur in Birbhum.
An electorate of 1,34,56,491 will decide the fate of 68 candidates in the eight constituencies -- Baharampur, Krishnagar, Ranaghat (SC), Burdwan East (SC), Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum.
There were reports of a clash between TMC and BJP workers outside a booth in Barabani in Asansol, following a tiff between sitting MP and BJP candidate in Asansol, Babul Supriyo and polling officials inside the station, an Election Commission source said.
Supriyo's vehicle was also reportedly vandalised in the clash, he said.
"I have come here just to see how the polling process is underway, but I found that voters are not being allowed to cast their ballots. Our fight is to establish democracy... It is shameful that I am saying this in a democratic country," the minister said.
However, an EC official said by and large, polling has so far been peaceful.
Rajasthan
Despite the scorching heat, over 43 per cent of 2.57 crore electorate Monday cast their votes till 1 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Rajasthan.
Maximum voter percentage of 53.45 was registered in Barmer, followed by Jodhpur where 46.41 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm.
The voting began at 7 am in the 13 constituencies of Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, according to the office of the chief electoral officer.
About 2.57 crore people are eligible to vote at 28,182 polling stations in the 13 constituencies where 115 candidates are in fray.
Jodhpur is one of the most talked about seats where Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav is pitted against Union minister of state and MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Bihar
An estimated 32.48 per cent voters of the 87.74 electorate cast their ballots till 1 PM in Bihar, where polling for five Lok Sabha seats is underway on Monday, an election official said.
Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary exercised his franchise at a polling station in Kyonta village under Ujiarpur Lok Sabha constituency while former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar cast his vote at Masnadpur polling station under Teghra assembly segment of Begusarai seat.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh cast his vote at a polling station at Barahiya under Munger Lok Sabha seat.
A total of 66 candidates, including three women nominees, are in the fray from Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger constituencies in the fourth phase of polling in the state.
Madhya Pradesh
An average 31.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Monday in six Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, an official said.
Polling was underway in the seats since 7 am.
"An average 31.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm," an election official said.
The voting figures till 1 pm are as follows: Sidhi- 22.84 per cent, Shahdol-34.24 per cent, Jabalpur-29.40 per cent, Mandla-34.10 per cent, Balaghat-33.17 per cent and Chhindwara-33 per cent.
Barring the Naxal-affected Baiher, Lanjhi and Paraswada Assembly segments under Balaghat parliamentary seat, polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm, the official said.
In Naxal-affected areas, polling will be held from 7 am to 4 pm, he said.
Uttar Pradesh
With the mercury steadily rising, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior leaders Monday appealed to the electorate not to bogged down by soaring temperatures and exercise their franchise.
Polling is underway in 13 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
In a tweet, Adityanath said, "Temperatures are high, take care of yourself but definitely cast your vote..every single vote of yours help formation of the government." "For a prosperous and strong Bharat, for a strong and decisive government, for fulfilling a dream, come out of houses today and vote. Remember, first voting and then breakfast," he said.
BSP president Mayawati also took to twitter to exhort people to vote.
"Polling is taking place for the fourth phase of election for the 17th Lok Sabha. It is an appeal to voters to first discharge their duty of casting votes. This effort of theirs is important for their welfare and interest," the former UP chief minister said.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted "Today's election will prove to be decisive for days to come." "For the safety of democracy, get united to vote by discharging your duties and rights as a citizen in the fourth phase of the process of mahaparivartan," Yadav said in a tweet.
Jammu and Kashmir
Several incidents of stone pelting took place Monday in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir where polling is underway for election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said.
"Isolated incidents of stone pelting near polling stations have been reported from various parts of Kulgam district but the situation is under control due to timely action of security forces," a police official said.
He said there were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the stone pelting incidents so far.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama with 16 assembly segments.
The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons.
Seats going to polls
Five seats in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, six in Madhya Pradesh, 17 in Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 13 each in Rajasthan and UP and eight in West Bengal will go for polling.
The seats going for election in Bihar are: Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger.
The constituencies in Rajasthan are: Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran.
In key state of Uttar Pradesh, the seats are: Shahjahanpur, Kheri, Hardoi, Misrikh, Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur , Jalaun, Jhansi and Hamirpur.
Some assembly segments in Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir will also go for polls in the fourth phase.
Nearly 52 per cent voting was recorded in Maharashtra where polling 17 Lok Sabha seats took place
1. Nandurbar - 68.09
2. Dhule - 51.99
3. Dindori - 57.90
4. Nashik - 52.45
5. Palghar - 56.96
6. Bhiwandi - 52.43
7. Kalyan - 42.84
8. Thane - 48.56
9. Mumbai North - 54.72
10. Mumbai North West - 50.37
11. Mumbai North East - 53.22
12. Mumbai North Central - 47.94
13. Mumbai South Central - 51.45
14. Mumbai South - 48.56
15. Maval - 51.35
16. Shirur - 51.25
17. Shirdi - 59.86
West Bengal recorded a high turnout at 76.47 in the eight seats
A voter turnout of 67.78 per cent was recorded in Rajasthan's 13 Lok Sabha seats
Voter turnout for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh was recorded at 57.58 per cent
A voter turnout of 64 percent was recorded in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls on Monday: Election Commission
Election Commission directs to register FIR against Babul Supriyo, Union Minister & BJP candidate from Asansol LS seat, for allegedly trespassing into booth number 199 and threatening a polling agent and an officer. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/fu20QRvq8d
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Polling underway in the fourth phase of #LokSabhaElections2019
— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 29, 2019
Voter turnout at 5:00 PM
#IndiaElections2019 #GeneralElections2019 #VoteForIndia pic.twitter.com/8g8uvbg7Ow
Polling underway in the fourth phase of #LokSabhaElections2019
— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 29, 2019
Voter turnout at 3:00 PM
#IndiaElections2019 #GeneralElections2019 #VoteForIndia pic.twitter.com/QN5ouU2XB9
Polling underway in the fourth phase of #LokSabhaElections2019
— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 29, 2019
Voter turnout at 3:00 PM
#IndiaElections2019 #GeneralElections2019 #VoteForIndia pic.twitter.com/emHlpeJre1
TMC in a letter to EC over alleged "Illegal action of central forces & violation of MCC by BJP candidates" in West Bengal: There were various instances where on instructions of BJP leaders, Central Forces acted in a manner which is not conducive to free & fair elections in WB. pic.twitter.com/aixme1SjJd
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Amid reports of violence during fourth phase of polling in West Bengal, the BJP Monday approached the Election Commission complaining that TMC workers have "hijacked democracy in the state" and again demanded deployment of central forces in all polling booths there.
A BJP delegation, which includes Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vijay Goel, and the party's media in-charge Anil Baluni, met the top officials of the poll panel here and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
"The ruling Trinamool Congress workers have hijacked democracy in the state and are indulging in violence. They are being supported by the local machinery and we demand deployment of central forces in all polling booths," Naqvi said.
The BJP also expressed concern about "no action" been taken against Congress president Rahul Gandhi who has been making "baseless allegations" against BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking to reporters after meeting the poll panel officials, Naqvi accused Gandhi of continuously making false allegations and derogatory statements against Shah and Modi.
He said the BJP has also demanded action against Madhya Pradesh government officials who are "working as Congress agents".
The party also accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's Lok Sabha candidate Atishi Marlena of seeking votes by making provocative religious statements and demanded action against them.
Pawar votes in Mumbai, urges people to elect stable govt
NCP chief Sharad Pawar pitched for a stable government at the Centre and urged citizens to come out in large numbers to cast their votes as he exercised his democratic right here on Monday.
Voting was underway for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls in 72 parliamentary constituencies spread across nine states.
In Maharashtra, polling was being held in 17 seats, including Mumbai.
"Today is an important day for the country. It is required that a stable government is formed. It is expected that Mumbaikars will not lag behind, and will exercise their voting right by coming out in large numbers and voting decisively," Pawar, the former Union minister, tweeted in Marathi.
Earlier, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan, Congress nominee Urmila Matondkar, industrialist Anil Ambani and actor Rekha cast their votes in Mumbai in the initial hours of polling.
State education minister Vinod Tawde, BJP candidate from Mumhai-North East Manoj Kotak and Congress nominee from Mumbai-Central Eknath Gaikwad were also among the early voters.
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi Thackeray and son Aditya Thackeray after casting their vote at a polling booth in Gandhi Nagar, Mumbai. Poonam Mahajan BJP's candidate from Mumbai North Central LS seat also present. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/vgsQjca0a1
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Maharashtra: Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar cast their vote in #Mumbai. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/I4fzIRSjWF
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
#Mumbai: Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra after casting his vote in Malabar Hill, says, "We all have been infected by the virus of progress and growth. Even if a coalition govt comes, it should work towards progress and growth of the country." pic.twitter.com/Mcf1q7CmCW
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
#Mumbai: Actor Kangana Ranaut after casting her vote at a polling booth in Khar. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/L4nXhMbyvj
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Union Min&BJP leader Piyush Goyal after casting his vote at Walsingham School, Malabar Hill in Mumbai: This election is now a Tsunami election. North South,East&West, Modi wave has overtaken the country. PM Modi is the tallest leader today in the country. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/S6fXnrhLE1
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
TMC delegation meets EC
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by party MP Shukhendu Shekhar Roy on Monday sought time from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) West Bengal in connection with BJP leader and Union Minister Babul Supriyo's alleged altercation with the polling officer and violence caused during polling in Asansol Lok Sabha seat. EC's response is awaited. Meanwhile, clashes erupted between BJP and TMC workers in Nalhati city in Birbhum district. During the scuffle, a BJP supporter sustained an injury on his head.
Security forces resorted to lathi-charge on Monday at a polling station in Asansol parliamentary constituency after clashes erupted between TMC and BJP supporters over allegations of electoral malpractices. There were reports of altercations between supporters of TMC, BJP and CPI (M) from several polling booths in the constituency. A BJP delegation which will include Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Goel and Anil Baluni, is scheduled to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Delhi today over the issue of poll-related violence in West Bengal. Supriyo had an altercation with polling officers and TMC cadres at a booth, alleging that supporters of Mamata Banerjee-led party were capturing polling stations and not letting voters to cast their ballot. Supriyo is pitted against Trinamool Congress' Moon Moon Sen from the Asansol seat.
Voting began amid incidents of violence in West Bengal, where an estimated 34.71 per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 11 am on Monday in eight Lok Sabha constituencies, election officials said.
An electorate of 1,34,56,491 will decide the fate of 68 candidates in the eight constituencies -- Baharampur, Krishnagar, Ranaghat (SC), Burdwan East (SC), Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum.
There were reports of a clash between TMC and BJP workers outside a booth in Barabani in Asansol, following a tiff between sitting MP and BJP candidate in Asansol, Babul Supriyo and polling officials inside the station, an Election Commission source said.
Supriyo's vehicle was also reportedly vandalised in the clash, he said.
"I have come here just to see how the polling process is underway, but I found that voters are not being allowed to cast their ballots. Our fight is to establish democracy... It is shameful that I am saying this in a democratic country," the minister said.
However, an EC official said by and large, polling has so far been peaceful.
"There are reports of small incidents of violence from some booths which were addressed immediately. Our officials and forces are monitoring the situation in Asansol," the official told PTI.
"We have sought a report from the presiding officer about what Babul Supriyo was doing inside the booth," he added.
Till 11 am, Baharampur recorded voting at 36.11 per cent, Krishnagar 34.85 per cent, Ranaghat (SC) 35.12 per cent, Burdwan East (SC) 36.09 per cent, Burdwan-Durgapur 34.64 per cent, Asansol 34.28 per cent, Bolpur (SC) 32.49 per cent and Birbhum 34.10 per cent, the state election office said.
The EC has deployed a total of 580 companies of central forces to cover all the polling booths in the Lok Sabha constituencies, to ensure free and fair polling.
The eight seats will see a four-cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front.
BJP delegation including Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Goel and Anil Baluni to meet Election Commission over poll-related violence in West Bengal
Problems in Bengal
In the first two hours, 1076 have been filed with the EC in West Bengal.
In Ketugram, the presiding officer has been removed.
In Durgapur's Jemua, villagers refused to vote till Central forces arrived.
In Asansol's Baraboni, Babul Supriyo's car was attacked and the windshield broken.
The union minister also got into a vocal tiff with the presiding officer.
In Birbhum, Dyut Kumar Mondal, the BJP candidate was witnessed talking on the phone.
Rigging of votes seen in East Burdwan constituency Ketugram at polling booth 104, 107
— DNA (@dna) April 29, 2019
Catch all live updates here- https://t.co/NJGiwmXpO5 pic.twitter.com/RSWcu1bDH3
.@aamir_khan with wife Kiran Rao cast vote in #Mumbai
— DNA (@dna) April 29, 2019
#LoksabhaElections2019 #Phase4
Catch all updates here- https://t.co/NJGiwmXpO5 pic.twitter.com/2BkANXTjrH
Polling percentage recorded till 9 am in #Phase4 of #LokSabhaElections2019 : 6.82% in Maharashtra (17 seats), 11.11% in Madhya Pradesh (6 seats) and 9% in Odisha (6) and 16.90% in West Bengal (8 seats)
Bengal Voting Percentage till 9 AM
Trouble in Bengal
Zee News vehicle attacked in Asansol during a clash between TMC and BJP cadre. Meanwhile, Union Minister Babul Supriyo’s car was also attacked in Asansol. BJP candidate Dutkumar Mandal was seen using his mobile phone in the booth.
Breaking: Massive clashes erupt between TMC- BJP cadres at Jemua while voters were observing a poll boycott. Police resort to lathicharge. RAF rushed to the spot.
SP wrote to EC complaining that a ‘large number of EVMs’ were malfunctioning in Kannauj.
Voting is yet to begin at booth number 162 of Malad West in Mumbai after a glitch in EVM was detected. #Maharashtra
Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde, his wife and daughter after casting their vote
Complaint of EVM malfunctioning in Taloja, Navi Mumbai
#Mumbai: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das casts his vote at polling booth number 40 & 41 at Peddar Road. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/i2TFjtuJxP
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Voters/ villagers have boycotted polls in two polling booths 222, 226 in Pandabesar, Asansol constituency demanding central forces. They have refused to cast their votes otherwise.
#Mumbai: BJP MP Candidate from Mumbai North Central, Poonam Mahajan casts her vote at polling booth number 48 in Worli. pic.twitter.com/muecE30tIC
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
#Mumbai: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das waits in queue to cast his vote at polling booth number 40 & 41 at Peddar Road. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/OGJMvQUE6A
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Mumbai: Anil Ambani casts his vote at voting centre number 216 at GD Somani School in Cuffe Parade. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/II9VZJvjmV
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
#Odisha: #Visuals from outside a polling booth in Kendrapara. #LokSabhaElections2019 #OdishaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/CwBWfMoozq
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Begusaraia's BJP candidate Giriraj Singh casts his vote
Bihar: Union Minister and sitting MP from Nawada, Giriraj Singh, cast his vote at polling booth number 33 in Barahiya of Lakhisarai district. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/babrOKVG36
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
PM Modi: “Another phase of the General Elections begins today. I hope those voting today do so in large numbers and break the voting records of the previous three phases. A special appeal to young voters to head to the polling booth and exercise their franchise.”
Another phase of the General Elections begins today. I hope those voting today do so in large numbers and break the voting records of the previous three phases.
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2019
A special appeal to young voters to head to the polling booth and exercise their franchise.
#Mumbai: Voters queue outside polling booth number 40 & 41 in South Mumbai parliamentary constituency. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/tRnHiTURvo
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
Bihar: Union Minister and sitting MP from Nawada, Giriraj Singh offered prayers at Barahiya's Shaktidham. pic.twitter.com/yS81rW6wVg
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
#LokSabhaElections2019 : Voters begin to queue up outside polling booth number 256 in Kannauj. 13 parliamentary constituencies in the state go to polls in the fourth phase of general elections. pic.twitter.com/GWOaBzBAca
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 29, 2019
Lucknow District Magistrate gives directions to all government & private school to change school timings in view of the rising temperature. From April 30, classes till Standard 10 will be conducted from 7:30 am to 12 pm. Classes of 11th & 12th can be conducted till 1 pm.
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 29, 2019
Bihar: Latest visuals from booth number 243 in Laheriasarai of Darbhanga, ahead of fourth phase of #LokSabhaElections2019 . Voting will begin at 7 AM today. pic.twitter.com/Sty9gqCBNw
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2019
