AMN / WEB DESK
In the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election Monday, approximate voter turnout of 62.84 per cent was recorded till 8 PM. In this phase, polling was held in 96 Lok Sabha seats spread over nine states and one Union Territory.
Till 8 PM, 68.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar recorded 55.90 per cent voter turn out, and Telangana recorded 61.39 per cent voter turn out. Jammu and Kashmir recorded a poll percentage of 36.58 per cent, Jharkhand saw 63.37 per cent turn out and Madhya Pradesh recorded 68.63 per cent. The polling percentage in Maharashtra was recorded at 52.75 per cent, Odisha 63.85 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 57.88 per cent and West Bengal 75.94.25 seats of Andhra Pradesh, 17 seats of Telangana, 13 seats of Uttar Pradesh, 11 seats of Maharashtra, eight seats each of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, 5 seats of Bihar, four seats each of Jharkhand and Odisha along with one seat of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir went to polls in this phase. A total of one thousand 717 candidates were in the fray for the fourth phase.
Election Commission said that the polling process remained peaceful. Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency recorded 36.58 percent voter turnout which is the highest in many decades. Chadoora, Chah-i-sharief, Ganderbal, Kangan, Khansahib and Shopian Assembly segments recorded more than 45 percent voter turnout. Completely peaceful and high turnout polling was seen in Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, and Shopian.
The Commission said that in an unfortunate incident, a polling official in Champapet, Telangana passed away while on duty. Taking swift cognisance of the tragic demise, the Commission has directed CEO Telangana for immediate disbursal of ex-gratia payment to the family of the deceased polling officer.
With the conclusion of phase 4, polling for General Elections has crossed the halfway mark with polling completed in 23 States and UTs and 379 Parliamentary Constituencies. Polling is complete in General Elections for State Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and 28 assembly seats of Odisha State Assembly.