The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, encompassing 88 seats in 13 states/UTs, spanning Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, and Maharashtra to Manipur, concluded peacefully on Friday with a vibrant display of democratic fervour as 60.96 per cent of eligible voters, young and old, braved the summer heat and logistical problems to exercise their franchise.
The queues at polling stations painted a vivid picture of India’s societal diversity, with newlyweds, senior citizens, tribals, IT professionals, persons with disabilities (PwDs), women, and first-time young voters patiently awaited their turn to press the EVM buttons for their desired candidates.
Special arrangements were made to combat the heat including the provision of shade, drinking water, medical kits, and fans.
Cricketing superstars Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Javagal Srinath were seen voting at different polling stations in Bengaluru and posed with their inked fingers to encourage voters. In several states like Rajasthan and Karnataka, officials and voters alike came in their traditional attire to celebrate the "Chunav ka Parv".
The fate of 1,202 candidates, including prominent figures such as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former Union Ministers Shashi Tharoor and Mahesh Sharma, actress Hema Malini, actor Arun Govil of "Ramayana fame", former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, BJP youth leader Tejasvi Surya, D.K. Suresh, brother of Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, former Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, and independent Pappu Yadav, now rests in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude towards voters. "The second phase went very well! Gratitude to the people across India who voted today. The unprecedented support for the NDA is further disappointing for the opposition. The voters want the NDA's governance. Youth and women voters are strongly supporting the NDA", he said in a post on X.
In this phase, voting took place for all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, along with half of Karnataka's 28 seats, the remaining seats of Rajasthan, Manipur, Tripura, as well as several in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir.
With this phase, polling has been held in 190 seats and the elections have been concluded in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Uttarakhand
The BJP, holding a significant number of seats in this phase, considers these elections crucial for maintaining and expanding its influence to secure a substantial majority in the Lok Sabha.
Tripura witnessed the highest voter turnout at 78.63 per cent, while Maharashtra recorded the lowest at 54.34 per cent.
Other states saw varying levels of participation, with Manipur at 77.18 per cent, Chhattisgarh at 73.05 per cent, West Bengal at 71.84 per cent, Assam at 70.68 per cent, and Jammu and Kashmir at 71.63 per cent.
Karnataka recorded a 67 per cent turnout, Kerala 65.28 per cent, Rajasthan 63.74 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 56.60 per cent, Bihar 54.91 per cent, and Uttar Pradesh 54.74 per cent.
However, these are provisional figures and the final turnout will be released following verification of Form 17A.
Shashi Tharoor to visit US, Owaisi heads to Saudi Arabia over Pahalgam attack
Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will head to the US, while the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi will visit Saudi Arabia to expose Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Pahalgam attack and to underline India's firm stance against terrorism.
MEA refutes Rahul Gandhi’s claim on Op-Sindoor: 'EAM was misquoted, no prior warning to Pak'
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Saturday refuting claims that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had asserted India informed Pakistan in advance about Operation Sindoor. The ministry denounced such assertions as a blatant distortion of facts.
Senior IPS officer Anurag appointed new Tripura Police Chief
The Tripura government, on Saturday, appointed Anurag Dhankar, an IPS officer of 1994 batch cadre, as the state's Director General of Police (DGP) replacing Amitabh Ranjan, officials said.
HM Amit Shah hails Operation Sindoor as a turning point in India's security doctrine
Home Minister Amit Shah, on a two-day visit to his home state Gujarat, said on Saturday that Operation Sindoor marked a historic shift in India’s national security response. He emphasised that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decisive leadership, Indian armed forces struck deep into Pakistani territory, dismantling terrorist infrastructure.
India restricts entry of ready-made garments, processed food from Bangladesh
In a significant trade policy shift, India on Saturday restricted the import of ready-made garments (RMG), processed food and other items from Bangladesh to India via land ports, effective immediately.
NE region’s largest dairy unit inaugurated in Tripura to boost milk production
Northeast region’s largest dairy unit was jointly inaugurated in Tripura on Saturday by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
IT Ministry, Tripura DIT discuss AI’s role in citizen-focused governance framework
Senior government officials have underscored the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionising governance paradigms, reiterating AI’s growing relevance in enabling data-driven policymaking, augmenting service delivery mechanisms, and optimising administrative efficiency, IT Ministry said on Saturday.
Tripura Govt to establish three more general degree colleges
To ensure enhanced access to higher education, the BJP led coalition government in Tripura has decided to establish three new general degree colleges.