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New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tussle between Congress and BJP over manifesto and inheritance tax, the second phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections began at 7 AM on Friday, with 88 seats across 13 states up for voting. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is running for re-election in Wayanad, Kerala. All of Kerala’s 20 Lok Sabha seats will be contested, along with 14 seats in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, 8 each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 each in Assam and Bihar, 3 each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 each in Manipur, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Let us tell you that voting was to be held on 89 seats in the second phase, but after the death of a candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party in Betul seat of Madhya Pradesh, now voting will be held in the third phase. The Election Commission said that in this phase, more than 16 lakh polling officers have been deployed at 1.67 lakh polling stations.
Election 2024 phase 2 updates: Amit Shah inspires voter turnout on Lok Sabha polling day
As voting got underway for phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to X to urge voters to participate in the democratic process enthusiastically. In his post, he said, “I appeal to all of you, who are exercising your right to vote today, to participate in this celebration of democracy with full enthusiasm and cast votes in record numbers for a strong, secure, and prosperous nation.”
He emphasised the importance of choosing a government that prioritises development, ensures border security, restores heritage, and makes decisions in the national interest. Shah said, “Every vote of yours will contribute to strengthening the foundation of a developed India.”
– Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi (Congress)
– Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor (Congress)
– Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP)
– Actor-turned-politician Arun Govil (BJP)
– Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh (Congress)
– Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS)
– Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini (BJP)
– Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (BJP)
– Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)
BJP candidates among the prominent candidates of the second phase include Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar. He is contesting from Congress’s Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Ramayana actor Arun Govil, actress Hema Malini and senior BJP leader Tejashwi Surya and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot are also in the fray.
