Results for: Lok Sabha Polls

In the past 24 hours, several poll personnel deployed for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have succumbed to the rising temperatures. In Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, 13 personnel died at a hospital due to high fever and blood pressure. Two additional personnel in Sonbhadra district also passed away due to suspected heatstroke. Meanwhile, in Bihar, where temperatures have soared to 44 degrees Celsius, 24 fatalities have been reported. Security personnel at a polling station in Sasaram collapsed due to extreme heat, with some in critical condition.

In a high-stakes electoral battle, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Ram Kripal Yadav and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ram Kripal Yadav will face off once again in the Pataliputra constituency. Yadav, a former confidant of Lalu Prasad Yadav, left the RJD in 2009 to join the BJP after being denied a ticket. Bharti, on the other hand, is seeking to establish her own political standing within the BJP, where her brother Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as his father’s successor. The Pataliputra seat serves as a microcosm of the broader electoral contest in Bihar, with the RJD and BJP locked in a fierce battle amid the disintegration of the Janata Dal (United).

In preparation for the Lok Sabha polls’ fifth phase on May 20, the Lucknow Police has issued a traffic advisory for May 19, outlining traffic restrictions and diversions. The advisory affects traffic heading to Smriti Upvan, the departure point for polling parties, from various intersections and areas. Commuters are urged to avoid these routes or use alternative ones if possible. Ambulances and emergency services will be permitted to use the restricted routes if necessary.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed concerns that the Supreme Court’s interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy case may be perceived as special treatment. Shah stated that the judgment was not a routine judicial order and that many believe Kejriwal received preferential treatment. The minister also criticized Kejriwal’s comments in an election rally, which Shah interpreted as contempt of the Supreme Court. Shah further dismissed claims by AAP leaders that the central government had monitored Kejriwal in jail, emphasizing that the Tihar jail is under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Shah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remain the BJP’s leader until 2029 and beyond.

Metro services between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar stations in Mumbai will be suspended from 6 pm on Wednesday due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. The suspension will continue until further notice. The Prime Minister will hold a roadshow in Ghatkopar for the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates. Mumbai Police has issued an advisory about road closures and diversions, including the Eastern Express Way and Western Express Way. The use of drones, paragliders, and other unmanned aircraft is prohibited in the city. Several VIPs and officials are expected to attend PM Modi’s roadshow, and Lok Sabha polls in Mumbai and surrounding areas will take place on May 20.

The fourth phase of polling in West Bengal’s Lok Sabha elections was marred by isolated incidents of violence and scuffles between political party supporters. Despite the deployment of 569 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), BJP candidate and former State party president Dilip Ghosh’s convoy was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters at two places. Other BJP candidates, including Jaganatha Sarkar and Debtanu Bhattacharya, also faced protests. The average polling percentage across eight Lok Sabha constituencies stood at 75.66% till 5 p.m., with Bolpur recording the highest at 77.77% and Asansol the lowest at 69.43%.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is undergoing internal turmoil as party chief Mayawati has removed her nephew and declared heir Akash Anand from the role of coordinator. This move has raised questions about the party’s succession plan and its election strategy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conduct an election rally in Ahmednagar on May 7 to campaign for the Mahayuti nominee in Nashik. The Telangana government will raise 3,000 crores in market borrowings to meet financial commitments. Delhi Capitals will face off against Rajasthan Royals on May 7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. In the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, 25 seats in Gujarat, 14 in Karnataka, 11 in Maharashtra, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, and 1 union territory (Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu) will go to the polls. Prime Minister Modi will address a public rally in Nabarangpur, Odisha, and in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The Supreme Court has asked the Enforcement Directorate to prepare for a hearing on Arvind Kejriwal’s interim bail plea in the Bhima Koregaon case. The NIA’s appeal against the Bombay High Court’s bail grant to Gautam Navlakha has been deferred to May 7. Rahul Gandhi will kick off his election campaign in Jharkhand from May 7. The notification for the 7th and final phase of Lok Sabha elections will be issued on May 7. In Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 1,404 voters will be able to vote from home on May 7 and 8. The deadline for installing aerators in Bengaluru has been extended to May 7. The Madras High Court has made e-passes mandatory for entering the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal from May 7 to June 30. The Telangana government will raise 3,000 crores in market borrowings to meet financial commitments. New iPad Pro with a powerful M4 chip upgrade is expected at Apple’s May 7 event. MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset launch is confirmed for May 7, with possible AI capabilities.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, will form a coalition government after the Lok Sabha polls, said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. He asserted that the people will get a prime minister who is first among equals and listens to others. Tharoor believes that a coalition government, like the proposed INDIA bloc, will provide a government that functions differently from a one-party government, with a prime minister who considers the views of others and manages effectively. He cited examples of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh as successful examples of consensus builders and effective leaders in coalition governments. Tharoor believes that the hubristic narrative of the BJP will end after the first phase of elections, and that the opposition will come together after June 4 to prevent the BJP from coming to power.

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor emphasized the party’s unwavering commitment to preserving India’s secular and democratic foundations during the 2024 General Elections. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor asserted that the primary objective was to counter the BJP’s divisive agenda, which threatened the Constitution’s core principles.