The high-octane campaigning for the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections concluded on Wednesday evening, marking the commencement of a 48-hour silence period. Polling is scheduled for April 26 in 88 constituencies across 12 states and Union Territories, including the remaining part of the Outer Manipur constituency. As the high-decibel campaigns for the Lok Sabha polls kick off, promises and guarantees by various political parties took place.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the “Sankalp Patra 2024” as the central theme of his campaign, focusing on the development of youth, empowerment of women, and welfare of farmers and marginalized communities. Meanwhile, the Congress is banking on its ‘Nyay’ guarantees, aiming at justice for various sections of society. The has come out all guns blazing at the over corruption, dynasty politics, and insulting the Constitution and Hinduism. The Opposition leaders, in turn, have attacked the government over electoral bonds, alleged misuse of agencies, inflation, and unemployment among other issues.
Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and several of their cabinet colleagues, leaders of the Congress such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and other parties also canvassed for their candidates. Key constituencies like Wayanad, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is contesting, and Thiruvananthapuram, where Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will face BJP’s Kummanam Rajasekharan, will go to polls in the second phase.
The end of the campaigning marks the commencement of a 48-hour silence period. As per the poll commission, a total of 2633 nominations were filed for 88 parliamentary constituencies across 12 States and UTs going for polls in phase 2 for the Lok Sabha Elections. The last date for filing nominations for phase 2 for all 12 States and UTs was April 4. After the scrutiny of 2633 nominations filed, 1428 nominations were found to be valid. The last date for withdrawal of candidature for all 12 States and UTs was April 8.
In phase 2, Uttar Pradesh has a maximum of 500 nominations from 20 parliamentary constituencies, followed by 491 nominations from 14 PCs in Karnataka. A minimum of 14 nominations were received from the parliamentary constituency in Tripura. 16-Nanded Parliamentary Constituency in Maharashtra received a maximum of 92 nominations.
