India’s Second Phase of General Elections Underway, 160 Million Eligible Voters
The second phase of India’s general election began on Friday, with 160 million people eligible to vote in this part of the six-week-long poll. The weather might have an impact on this phase of the vote, as scorching heatwaves have affected parts of the country. Eligible voters in 88 constituencies across 13 states participated in the second phase of voting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition INDIA alliance have been actively campaigning to influence voters.
The southern states of Karnataka and Kerala will be the focus of attention on Friday. Karnataka is one of the BJP’s strongholds in southern India, but the state went to the opposition in the state assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi, the great-grandson of India’s first prime minister and one of PM Modi’s strongest critics, is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala, which has been a Congress bastion for the last two decades.
Political parties have expressed concerns about voter turnout due to the intense heat and wedding season in some parts of the country. In the first phase of voting on April 19, voter turnout was 65%, compared to 70% in 2019. However, the election commission has stated that it has no major concerns about the impact of hot temperatures on Friday’s vote. Both Modi and Gandhi have urged Indians to exercise their right to vote in this crucial election.
