Lok Sabha elections: Second phase of polling begins in 88 constituencies

The second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election began on Friday, with 88 constituencies across 12 states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir going to the polls.

Voting is underway in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and one each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

The estimated voter turnout till 1 pm in Assam was 46.31%, while it was 33.80% in Bihar and 53.09% in Chhattisgarh. Jammu and Kashmir recorded a voter turnout of 42.88% till 1 pm according to data released by the Election Commission.

Voter turnout till 1 pm in the rest of the states is: Karnataka 38.23%, Kerala 39.26%, Madhya Pradesh 38.96%, Maharashtra 31.77%, Manipur 54.26%, Rajasthan 40.39%, Tripura 54.47%, Uttar Pradesh 35.73% and West Bengal 47.29%.

Madhya Pradesh's Betul constituency was also supposed to go to polls in the second phase, but the voting was postponed to May 7 after the death of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate on April 9, according to PTI.

Among the prominent candidates in the fray during the second phase are the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and Bhupesh Baghel,...

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