The third phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed a voter turnout of approximately 61.45 percent by 8 p.m., covering 93 constituencies across 11 states and Union Territories, as announced by the Election Commission. Assam recorded the highest turnout at 75.26 percent for 4 seats, while Maharashtra reported the lowest at 54.77 percent for 11 seats. Goa and West Bengal followed closely with 74.27 percent and 73.93 percent respectively.
Polling commenced at 7 a.m. and officially ended at 6 p.m., with voters persevering through the heat to exercise their democratic rights. Even after the official closing time, individuals in queues were allowed to cast their votes. With the conclusion of Phase 3, half of the Lok Sabha seats (283) have now completed their polling, spanning 20 states and Union Territories.
The election process concluded in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on Tuesday. The Election Commission stated that the approximate voter turnout figures as of 8 p.m. will be continuously updated on the VTR App as polling parties formally close the polls and hand over Form 17 C to the polling agents of candidates at each polling station. A further update is scheduled for 11:30 p.m.
Among the 1,331 candidates contesting, notable figures include Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna (Madhya Pradesh), Congress heavyweight Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri and Aditya Yadav from Budaun (Uttar Pradesh), former BJP Karnataka Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar from Belgaum and Basavaraj Bommai from Haveri, Congress’ Geeta Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, industrialist Pallavi Dempo contesting from South Goa on a BJP ticket, and NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule facing off against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar in Baramati, among others.
