With four phases completed and three more to go, we are now officially in the second half of the Lok Sabha elections. In the fourth phase, 96 constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories are voting. Similar to the earlier phases, all eyes are on the voter turnout figures.
In the first two phases, voter turnout dropped by just under 4 percentage points and 3 percentage points respectively compared to 2019. However, in Phase 3, the turnout figures edged closer to the 2019 levels, with a 1.32 percentage point decrease. The provisional turnout figures will be available by Monday night, followed by the final data in a few days.
It will be interesting to see the Opposition’s response this time, especially after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concerns last week about the delay in releasing the final turnout numbers. This drew a strong response from the polling body, which in turn triggered a strong reaction from the Congress.
Setting aside the controversy over the timing of final turnout figures, the dip in voter turnout has raised concerns within the BJP. A senior BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh, speaking to Anand Mohan J, revealed, “The central BJP team analyzed the data and observed that women voters, who are beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme, did not turn out in large numbers during the first two phases as they did during the Assembly elections. Additionally, many party workers did not campaign with full vigor. The central leadership had to reinvigorate the party to prevent over-confidence in various quarters.”
Meanwhile, Anjishnu Das provides a comprehensive breakdown of the fourth phase, analyzing the 2019 results in these constituencies, the candidates running this time, key contests, and more.
In campaign updates:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following a massive roadshow in Patna, will conduct a similar event in his constituency Varanasi. Modi is scheduled to file his nomination papers on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, he will address an event in Hajipur, the former seat of Ram Vilas Paswan, where Chirag Paswan, the late leader’s son and Lok Janskhakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, is contesting. Modi will also hold public meetings in Muzaffarpur and Saran.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, focusing on Rae Bareli, which goes to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.
