Industrialist Anil Ambani cast his vote for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections today in Mumbai. Actor Akshay Kumar was also among the early voters at his designated polling booth. Actor Janhvi Kapoor and Sanya Malhotra, Raj Kumar Rao arrived to cast their votes at Mount Mary Convent High School in Bandra.
Voting for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Monday morning across 49 parliamentary constituencies in six states and two Union Territories (UTs), amid tight security. The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote.
#WATCH | Industrialist Anil Ambani stands in a queue at a polling booth in Mumbai, as he waits for the voting to begin.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/UUCC9iOmyu
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024
Actor Akshay Kumar shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai. He says, “…I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right…I think voter turnout will be good…”
#WATCH | Actor Akshay Kumar shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.
He says, "…I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right…I think voter… pic.twitter.com/mN9C9dlvRD
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024
#WATCH | Bollywood Actress Janhvi Kapoor casts her vote at a polling station in Mumbai for #LokSabhaElections2024
"Please come out and vote, " she says pic.twitter.com/5Ki6JH30Et
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024
Actor Sanya Malhotra shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting her vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.
#WATCH | Actor Sanya Malhotra shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting her vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/ajbM69mtqJ
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024
#WATCH | Mumbai: After casting his vote, Actor Rajkummar Rao says, "It is a big responsibility towards our country, we should vote. Through us, if people can get influenced then of course that's the biggest thing that we can do to make people aware of the importance of voting. So… https://t.co/Tqny3HoyUZ pic.twitter.com/hFtLu96I6Z
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), polling for 35 assembly constituencies of the Odisha legislative assembly is also taking place simultaneously on Monday. Over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in this phase.
The fifth phase will feature significant contests in various constituencies, with leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya seeking electoral success.
Eight states/UTs participating in Phase 5 are Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Lucknow, which have historically seen low voter turnout, are also voting in this phase. The commission has urged urban residents to turn out in higher numbers to combat this trend.
Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats being contested, 14 are in Uttar Pradesh, 13 in Maharashtra, 7 in West Bengal, 5 in Bihar, 3 in Jharkhand, 5 in Odisha, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. To ensure a peaceful voting environment, 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are monitoring the 94,732 polling stations round the clock. Additionally, 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are vigilantly overseeing any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Sea and air routes are also under strict surveillance, according to the ECI.
The ECI stated that polling stations are equipped with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure voters have a comfortable and secure environment. Local officials have been advised to take measures to manage hot weather conditions where forecasted. The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride.
So far, the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections have seen a voter turnout of about 66.95 percent, with approximately 451 million people voting in the first four phases. The remaining phases will continue until June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.
Polling for the state legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and 28 assembly seats in the Odisha State Assembly has also been completed. With the conclusion of the first four phases, voting is halfway complete, covering 23 states/UTs and 379 parliamentary constituencies.
The results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4.