Lok Sabha Elections: Stage Set for Sixth Phase, Two Former CMs Among Prominent Candidates in Fray

The penultimate round of the mammoth Lok Sabha battle is set for Saturday, covering 58 seats across six states and two union territories. The Election Commission ensures arrangements for smooth voting.

In this sixth phase, Bihar, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal witness polling. A total of 889 candidates vie for these seats, with prominent contenders including former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Mehbooba Mufti.

Notable battles include New Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, and Chandni Chowk in Delhi, and Sultanpur and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Stakes are high for BJP, Congress, AAP, and other parties in this phase.

The Delhi contest sees AAP and Congress challenging BJP, which dominated the capital’s Lok Sabha seats in recent elections. High-profile candidates like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Arvind Kejriwal bolster their respective party campaigns.

Haryana, where BJP swept all seats in 2019, also witnesses multi-cornered contests. Odisha, with battles in Sambalpur, Bhubaneshwar, and Puri, is significant.

The Election Commission instructs state officials to manage adverse weather conditions, ensuring polling stations provide necessary facilities for voter comfort and safety.

Voters are urged to turn out in large numbers, with emphasis on urban centres like Delhi and Gurgaon to break the trend of urban apathy.

This phase marks the culmination of polling in 428 parliamentary constituencies across 25 states and UTs. Over 11.13 crore voters, including 5.84 crore male, 5.29 crore female, and 5120 third gender electors, are eligible to vote.

Special provisions are made for elderly voters and those with disabilities to vote comfortably, including voting from home.

The Lok Sabha elections conclude on June 1 after the seventh phase, with results declared on June 4.