The fifth phase of voting in India’s seven-phase election has begun in 49 seats across six states and two union territories.

Simultaneously, voting is also being conducted in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is a candidate. 

The seats going to polls include 13 in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha, one in J&K, and the lone seat in Ladakh. 

This round covers the least number of seats (49) in the seven-phase elections. According to the Election Commission, a total of 695 candidates are contesting in the fifth phase of the elections. 

The first four phases of the mammoth vote were held on April 19, April 26, May 7 and May 13. 

The next two phases fall on May 25 and June 1, and the votes will be counted on June 4.

The election primarily pits the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by two-time Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), spearheaded by the main opposition Indian National Congress party.

There are about 969 million registered voters to elect 543 members of Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, in the world’s largest democratic exercise over six weeks.

Source: AL Jazeera and Times of India

BDST: 0955 HRS, MAY 20, 2024
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