The fifth phase of Lok Sabha polling on May 20 across 49 parliamentary constituencies in six states and two Union Territories (UTs) witnessed a voter turnout of 23.66 per cent by 11 am, according to the Election Commission (ECI). Bihar recorded a 21.11 per cent turnout, Jammu and Kashmir 21.37 per cent, Jharkhand 26.18 per cent, Ladakh 27.87 per cent, Maharashtra 15.93 per cent, Odisha 21.07 per cent, and West Bengal 32.70 per cent.
Over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, are deciding the fate of 695 candidates in this phase. The contest features prominent 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.
The polling in this phase covers Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Lucknow are included, which have faced urban apathy in voting in the past. Out of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
To ensure a peaceful 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. Additionally, 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are vigilant against illicit activities, with strict surveillance on sea and air routes, as per the ECI.
