• Fourth phase of 2024 polls features 1,717 candidates for 96 seats
  • 21 swing seats identified, including Amalapuram, Anantapur, and Visakhapatnam
  • Close contests expected as 11 seats were won by less than 1% votes in 2019 polls

AMN / WEB DESK

Election Commission today reviewed the preparedness for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls with 354 observers. The meeting was held through video conferencing. During the meeting, the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar directed  them to ensure smooth, free and fair polling to be held on 13th of this month during the fourth phase. He also asked the observers to ensure all amenities at polling stations especially to combat heat conditions.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections have already crossed the halfway mark in terms of seats. And on May 13, it’ll do so with phases as well. In the fourth phase, 1,717 candidates will vie for 96 seats across 10 states and Union Territories. This phase is particularly riveting because of its equally high number of swing seats — constituencies where no single party has consistently won in the last three elections — and strongholds or constituencies dominated by one party in the same duration.

There are 20 strongholds in this phase, including Mahbubnagar, Medak, Maval, Shirdi, Baharampur, Nalgonda, Ahmadnagar, Beed, Darbhanga, Indore, Jalgaon, Jalna, Khargone, Khunti, Lohardaga, Raver, Berhampur, Birbhum, Krishnanagar, and Hyderabad.

695 Candidates Contesting In 5th Phase Of Lok Sabha Elections Across 6 States And 2 Union Territories On May 20

A total of  695 candidates are in the fray for 49 Parliamentary Constituencies of six States and two Union Territories in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. A total of one thousand 586 nominations were filed for these Parliamentary Constituencies which are going for polls on 20th May. The last date for filing nominations was the 3rd of this month and after the scrutiny of all nominations filed, 749 nominations were found valid.

In the fifth phase, polling will be held on the 20th of May for 14 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 13 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, seven seats in West Bengal, five Lok Sabha seats each in Bihar and Odisha, three seats Jharkhand and one Lok Sabha seat each in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.