New Delhi: Polling began for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections today amidst tight security in 71 constituencies spread over nine States.
Voting is taking place in 17 Parliamentary seats in Maharashtra, 13 each in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, eight in West Bengal, six each in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha; five in Bihar; and three in Jharkhand in this phase.
Voting has been largely free of hurdles so far – barring a few cases of EVM glitches and clashes erupted in West Bengal between BJP and TMC workers.
Following clashes between TMC and BJP workers, a BJP delegation including Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Goel and Anil Baluni met Election Commission over poll-related violence. Meanwhile TMC has filed a written complaint against Babul Supriyo and alleges that the BJP MP from Asansol misbehaved with TMC polling agent in Jemua.
Meanwhile, Bollywood celebrities Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Madhuri Dixit Nene and a stream of other Bollywood celebrities voted in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections and urged others to step out and make their vote count.
“This is the moment that matters… Every vote is a voice that counts,” tweeted Priyanka along with a selfie showing off her inked finger. Rekha, Kiran Rao, Sanjay Khan, Shankar Mahadevan, Paresh Rawal, Ravi Kishan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Kailash Kher, Mahesh Bhatt, Aahana Kumra, Sapna Moti Bhavnani, Pooja Bhatt, Divya Dutta, Zayed Khan, Sonali Bendre Behl, Varun Dhawan, Anupam Kher, Goldie Behl and Twinkle Khanna were some of those who stepped out early and voted.
There are a number of high-profile candidates in this phase. These include Giriraj Singh, Subhash Bhamre, S S Ahluwalia and Babul Supriyo (BJP), Salman Khurshid (Congress), Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress), Kanhaiya Kumar (CPI), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Urmila Matondkar (Congress), Dimple Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Satabdi Roy (TMC) and Milind Deora (Congress). A total of 12 crore 79 lakh voters will cast their votes with the Election Commission urging everyone to be part of the democratic process.