Lok Sabha Election Phase 6: Key Highlights
The penultimate phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Phase 6, is currently underway, with over 11 crore eligible voters set to cast their ballots across 58 constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories. This crucial phase features several high-profile candidates, including BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Manoj Tiwari, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, and Congress's Kanhaiya Kumar.
Geographical Distribution of Constituencies
Phase 6 encompasses constituencies in Haryana (10), Bihar (8), Jharkhand (4), Odisha (6), Uttar Pradesh (14), West Bengal (8), Delhi (7), and Jammu and Kashmir (1). Polling for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha is also being conducted concurrently.
Delhi Constituencies in Focus
This phase marks the commencement of polling in all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi: North East Delhi, North West Delhi, Chandni Chowk, South Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, and New Delhi. Prominent candidates vying for votes include BJP's Manoj Tiwari and Bansuri Swaraj, Congress's Kanhaiya Kumar and Udit Raj, and AAP's Somnath Bharti.
Haryana's Electoral Landscape
All 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana are up for grabs in Phase 6. Key candidates in the fray include former Chief Minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal), BJP's Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurugram), and Naveen Jindal (Kurukshetra).
West Bengal's Tribal Belt
West Bengal's tribal belt, Jangal Mahal, is a major focal point in this phase, with voting taking place in eight constituencies: Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur. The BJP emerged victorious in five of these seats in 2019, while the Trinamool Congress won the remaining three.
Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag-Rajouri Seat
Anantnag-Rajouri constituency in Jammu and Kashmir is also conducting polling in this phase. The election was initially scheduled for May 7 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
Historical Results and Electoral Trends
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress failed to secure any of the 58 seats contested in Phase 6. The BJP emerged as the dominant force, winning 40 seats, while its NDA allies secured five seats. In terms of vote share, the BJP-led NDA garnered 51.36%, while the INDI bloc parties registered a combined 28.66% share.
Concluding Notes
With the conclusion of Phase 6, polling will have been completed for 486 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. The final phase will take place on June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. This crucial election is poised to shape the future of India's political landscape, and the outcomes of Phase 6 will play a significant role in determining the composition of the next Lok Sabha.
