As of 8 p.m., the Election Commission reported a voter turnout of approximately 62.84 per cent for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, covering 96 constituencies across 10 states and one UT. West Bengal led with the highest turnout at 75.94 per cent, while Jammu and Kashmir recorded the lowest at 36.58 per cent.
Noteworthy was the increased participation in the Srinagar constituency of J&K, marking its first election post the abrogation of Article 370, with a turnout of 40.94 per cent, the highest since 1996.
Favorable weather conditions contributed to the enthusiasm of voters, transcending age groups, with no significant heat wave-like conditions reported.
Madhya Pradesh saw a 68.63 per cent turnout for its 8 seats, while Andhra Pradesh, conducting simultaneous polls for its 25 parliamentary constituencies and 175 Assembly seats, recorded 68.12 per cent turnout, expected to rise as voting continued at some booths past 9 p.m.
Other states recorded varying turnouts: Odisha (4 seats) at 63.85 per cent, Jharkhand (4 seats) at 63.37 per cent, Telangana (all 17 seats) at 61.39 per cent, Uttar Pradesh (13 seats) at 57.88 per cent, Bihar (5 seats) at 55.90 per cent, and Maharashtra (11 seats) at 52.75 per cent.
Additionally, polling commenced for the Odisha Assembly elections with 28 out of the 147 seats in the first phase.
Instances of violence, such as a YSRCP MLA allegedly slapping a voter who retaliated and clashes between YSRCP and TDP supporters, marred polling in Andhra Pradesh. Similar incidents were reported in West Bengal, including an attack on the BJP candidate's convoy.
A total of 17.7 crore electors (8.97 crore male, 8.73 crore female) were eligible to cast their votes for 1,717 candidates in this phase.
Key contestants included Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Nityanand Rai, and Ajay Mishra Teni, as well as notable figures like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shatrughan Singh, Madhavi Latha, Asaduddin Owaisi, Mahua Moitra, Akhilesh Yadav, Pankaja Munde, Y.S. Sharmila, and Kantilal Bhuria.
With this phase, elections for 379 MPs are complete, covering 23 states/UTs, including the entire south India and Madhya Pradesh.
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