Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 4: FIR Against BJP's Babul Supriyo; 59.16% In All States Till 6 pm

7:06 pm: ‘Thoda Toh Hoga Hi’ TMC’s Moon Moon Sen On Violence In Asansol

TMC’s Asansol candidate Moon Moon Sen (profile ) has now said that she still doesn’t know where the violence took place in Asansol. Also she is of the opinion that poll violence was common and happens everywhere. 

She told ANI: “I have not met my seniors yet and when we will sit together I will know where and why violence took place. Thoda toh hoga hi har jagah hota hai. (There will be a little violence, it happens everywhere) Violence is much less now compared to before.”

Earlier in the day she had said she did not know about the widespread violence being reported from different parts of the state because she was given her bed tea really late. 

6:56 pm: Mamata Banerjee Criticises Central Forces For Opening Fire In Polling Booth

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the central forces for allegedly firing “inside” a polling booth in Birbhum district phase 4 of Lok Sabha Election 2019.   She also accused the BJP of misusing the forces in the elections.

“I have heard that the CRPF fired inside a booth in Dubrajpur. I am yet to get the detailed report. CRPF personnel can be deputed outside booths, but they do not have the right to lathi charge or fire,” Banerjee said.

She alleged that the firing was a ploy to rig the polls by the BJP with the help of central forces.

“Law and order is a state subject and not a central subject. Even if the central forces have to conduct a route march, they are required to do it along with the state police,” the TMC chief said while speaking at rallies in Bagdhah and Swaroop Nagar in North 24 Parganas district.

In Dubrajpur area of Birbhum constituency, voters allegedly engaged in a scuffle with the central forces when they were barred from entering booths with mobile phones, a senior election official said. Security personnel reportedly fire in the air to control the mob, following which polling was stalled in the booths, the official said.

6:34 pm Rajasthan CEO Seeks Report Over Bogus Voting

The chief electoral officer in Rajasthan has sought a report after voters in Jodhpur alleged bogus voting. 

They said that their votes had already been cast when they reached the polling booth. 

6:08 pm: 59.16% Voter Turnout In All States Till 6 pm

The total voter turnout in phase 4 of Lok Sabha Election 2019  in the 72 Lok constituencies across nine states till 6 pm was 59.16%

Here are the state-wise voter turnout percentages: 

Bihar 53.67%

J&K 9.79%

Madhya Pradesh 65.86%

Maharashtra 51.02%

Odisha 64.05%

Rajasthan 62.86%

Uttar Pradesh 53.12%

West Bengal 76.47%

Jharkhand 63.42%

6:02 pm: Dog With ‘Modi Lao, Desh Bachao’ Stickers On Body Detained

PTI reported that a dog with pro-BJP stickers on its body was detained alongwith his master in north Maharashtra’s Nandurbar town where polling for the Lok Sabha elections took place Monday.

Eknath Motiram Chaudhary (65), resident of Navnathnagar area, was spotted with his dog near Andhare hospital Monday afternoon. The dog’s body was found covered with stickers bearing the BJP’s symbol and the message “Modi Lao, Desh Bachao” (Vote for Modi and save the country), a local police official said.

As the polling was underway, police had received a complaint about the dog and his master who were roaming around the town, he said.

A case was registered against Choudhary under section 171 (A) of the IPC for violation of election rules which prohibit campaigning on polling day.

5:33 pm: FIR Against BJP’s Babul Supriyo For Trespassing In Booth, Threatening Polling Agent

The Election Commission on Monday registered an FIR against Asansol BJP MP and candidate Babul Supriyo for trespassing into a booth in his constituency and threatening a polling agent during phase 4 of Lok Sabha Election 2019 . 

This comes even as voting round 4 in West Bengal was marred by clashes and violence. Supriyo had approached the EC alleging booth capturing and rigging. The TMC also wrote to the EC accusing BJP of using Central forces to influence people to vote for them. 

5:10 pm: 52.50% Voter Turnout In All States Till 5 pm

The total voter turnout in phase 4 of Lok Sabha Election 2019 in the 72 Lok constituencies across nine states till 5 pm was 52.50%. 

Here are the state-wise voter turnout percentages: 

Bihar 51.37%

J&K 9.37%

Madhya Pradesh 59.24%

Maharashtra 43.85%

Odisha 54.66%

Rajasthan 55.65%

Uttar Pradesh 47.84%

West Bengal 68.34%

Jharkhand 57.13%

5:00 pm: Derek O’ Brien Accuses Modi, BJP Of Horse Trading 

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of horse trading for saying at a poll rally that 40 party MLAs were in touch with him and said TMC would complain to the Election Commission .

“Expiry Babu PM, lets get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading,” Brien tweeted.

Modi while addressing an election rally at Sreerampur in Hoogly district on Monday said that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and will desert their party once BJP wins the general elections.

Read full story here . 

4:55 pm: Sacked BSF Constable Tej Bahadur Yadav Samajwadi Party Candidate From Varanasi

The Samajwadi Party  on Monday declared dismissed BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav as its candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi  from Varanasi .

The SP, which is in an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, had earlier declared Shalini Yadav as its candidate from Varanasi, while the Congress has renominated Ajai Rai.

“I was sacked for raising the issue of corruption. My sole objective will be to strengthen and eliminate corruption in the forces,” Yadav told reporters when asked about the SP decision to field him.

Read full story here . 

4:52 pm: ‘Didi, 40 Of Your MLAs Are In Touch With Me’: Narendra Modi Tells Mamata Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  claimed on Monday that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and will desert their party once the BJP  wins the general elections .

He also accused TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee  of nepotism, insisting she wants to politically establish her nephew in West Bengal .

Read full story here . 

4:46 pm: Biju Janata Dal Alleges ‘BJP Goons’ Captured Booths In Odisha

Now, the Biju Janata Dal has alleged that BJP has captured booths in Odisha. ANI quoted BJD’s letter to the EC as saying, “BJP goons conducted booth capturing in 12 booths of Bari assembly constituency under Jajpur parliamentary constituency while the polling was going on today.”

4:43 pm: Shah Rukh And Gauri Khan Cast Vote In Mumbai’s Bandra

4:42 pm: BJP Demands Re-polling In Several West Bengal Booths

Even as Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi exchanged barbs at poll rallies in West Bengal, the BJP demanded re-polling in several booths in the state where elections were held in phase 4 of the Lok Sabha Election 2019. 

News18 reported that the BJP has demanded re-polling in all booths of Birbhum, Krishnanagar’s Chapra, Ranaghat’s Chakdah,  Barabani, Asansol, Pandaweshwar in Asansol. 

Widespread violence was reported from West Bengal on Monday with clashes between TMC and BJP workers. 

BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car was also vandalised.  

4:30 pm: Anushka Sharma Casts Vote In Mumbai

Actor Anushka Sharma voted from Mumbai during phase 4 of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. 

Mumbai saw several Bollywood actors like Ranveer Singh, Amitabh Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor come out and vote. However, voter turnout remained dismal in the city. Mumbai is known to have a low voter turnout in every election. 

Read full story here.

4:00 pm: Samajwadi Party Alleges VVPAT Malfunction In Kannauj, Says ‘Lotus’ Shown When ‘Cycle’ Button Pressed

The Samajwadi Party has urged the Election Commission to remove Uttar Pardesh’s police chief OP Singh from the post alleging he was “favouring” the ruling BJP and affecting elections, reported PTI

SP alleged that in at at least two polling booths the Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machine showed the voting for the BJP when the ballot was cast for the SP. SP’s Dimple Yadav (profile ) is in fray from Kannauj. 

Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said the Director General of Police was “misusing” government machinery to help the BJP. “We demanded from the EC to remove him immediately,” PTI quoted Yadav as saying.

He was part of a SP delegation that met Chief Electoral Officer L Venkatenshwar Lu and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate removal of the DGP. It highlighted the issue of “faulty” EVMs.

“The police are terrorising minority voters. The force is being misused in favour of the BJP. We have apprised the CEO about it,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.

3:05 pm: Voter Turnout Till 3 pm

The total voter turnout in the 72 Lok Sabha constituencies in nine states till 3 pm is at 39.58%. 

Here are the state-wise voter turnout percentages: 

Bihar 37.71%

J&K 7.44%

Madhya Pradesh 45.60%

Maharashtra 31.59%

Odisha 35.79%

Rajasthan 44.56%

Uttar Pradesh 35.47%

West Bengal 52.91%

Jharkhand 48.14%

3:00 pm: Mamata Banerjee Slams Security Forces Opening Fire In West Bengal

Even as TMC went wrote to the Election Commission about alleged malpractices in West Bengal poll booths, Mamata Banerjee was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying, “I have heard that central force personnel have entered a booth in Dubrajpur and opened fire. Law and order is a state subject. They cannot do it.” 

2:47 pm: Now Trinamool Congress Writes to EC, Alleges Central Forces Urged People To Vote For BJP

While the BJP alleged booth capturing and rigging by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, the TMC has in a letter to the Election Commission alleged that Central and BJP were acting in an “illegal manner” that was not conducive to free and fair polls. 

The letter said the BJP was resorting to “large-scale violence, intimidation, chaos and unrest” in the state. 

The TMC and the BJP have been at loggerheads in West Bengal, each party blaming the other for the violence in the state in all four phases. 

The TMC also alleged firing by Central forces inside polling booth. 

2:34 pm 38.63% Voter Turnout Across 9 States Till 2 pm

2:12 pm: EC Asks What Babul Supriyo Was Doing Inside Poll Booth

While the BJP has complained to the Election Commission over widespread violence in West Bengal’s Asansol, an EC official asked why BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha Constituency and incumbent MP Babul Supriyo was inside the polling booth. 

“We have sought a report from the presiding officer about what Babul Supriyo was doing inside the booth,” the officer told News18 . The officer also said that polling had been peaceful in most places. 

Supriyo’s car was vandalised in Asansol. 

2:05 pm: Kareena Kapoor, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan Vote In Mumbai

1:36 pm: BJP Seeks More Central Forces In Bengal Over Poll Violence

BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday that the party had approached the Election Commission over violence in West Bengal and sought more Central forces to ensure free and fair elections. He told ANI , “We also raised the issue of poll violence in West Bengal. We have asked deputation of central forces at all polling booths so that free & fair elections can be held in the state.”

Naqvi also said that the BJP “raised displeasure” over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

1:29 pm: Moon Moon Sen Isn’t Aware Of Bengal Clashes Because She Was Given ‘Bed Tea Very Late’

West Bengal is burning but TMC’s Moon Moon Sen (profile ) is oblivious to it. Asansol saw widespread violence with BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car vandalised, Sen said she was not aware because she was given her bed too a little too late. 

Sen is contesting from Asansol against Supriyo. She told NDTV , “They gave me my bed tea very late so I woke up very late. What can I say? I really don’t know.” 

1:20 pm: Voter Turnout Till 1 pm

The total voter turnout in the 72 Lok Sabha constituencies in nine states till 1 pm is at 30.78%. 

Here are the state-wise voter turnout percentages: 

Bihar 21.96%

J&K 6.66%

Madhya Pradesh 35.78%

Maharashtra 21.70%

Odisha 26.94%

Rajasthan 35.45%

Uttar Pradesh 31.90%

West Bengal 43.19%

Jharkhand 39.19%

12:56 pm: 9 Injured In Birbhum As Clashes Continue In West Bengal

At least nine people have been injured in clashes between BJP and TMC workers in West Bengal’s Birbhum, reported News18. 

The incident took reportedly took place outside a polling booth in Birbhum. Three of the injured, the report said, were TMC workers. They were rushed to hospital. 

12:52 pm: Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar Vote In Mumbai

Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, who have both been vocal critics of the ruling government, cast their votes in Mumbai on Monday. Both Azmi and Akhtar have criticised the brand of nationalism propagated by the BJP. 

Azmi also campaigned for Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Kanhaiya Kumar (profile ), who is in fray from Bihar’s Begusarai in phase 4 of the Lok Sabhha Election 2019.  

12:40 pm: TMC Women Supporters Protest As Violence Mars Polling In Bengal

Stick wielding women supporters of the TMC protested in Birbhum’s Nanoor after BJP supporters reportedly stopped TMC workers from voting in the absence of Central forces in a polling booth. 

The police were seen trying to pacify the protesting women. 

There were reports clashes across Bengal, with BJP MP Babul Supriyo approaching the EC over poll violence. 

12:25 pm: Stone Pelting Reported From J&K’s Kulgam

Incidents of stone pelting was reported from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district in the the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency where polling is under way. 

“Isolated incidents of stone pelting near polling stations have been reported from various parts of Kulgam district but the situation is under control due to timely action of security forces,” a police official told PTI.

He said there were no reports of anyone getting hurt in the stone pelting incidents so far.

The Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama with 16 assembly segments. The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons.

Anantnag district went to polls on 23 April, while voting in Pulwama and Shopian districts will take place on 6 May.

The Election Commission has curtailed the polling duration for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency by two hours following a request from the state police to this effect. The revised polling timing is from 7 am to 4 pm.

There are 18 candidates in the fray for Anantnag constituency, including PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti.

The Congress has fielded its state president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, while former High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi is contesting on the National Conference ticket.

12:17 pm: Congress Spokesperson Sanjay Jha’s Indelible Has Disappeared

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha, who cast his vote from Mumbai on Monday in phase 4 of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, said on Twitter that the indelible ink mark on his finger disappeared very soon after voting. 

This is an issue that had been pointed out by many during the first and second phases of polling. 

11:56 am: BJP’s Babul Supriyo Moves EC

NDTV reported that BJP MP from West Bengal’s Asansol Babul Supriyo approached the Election Commission over clashes in the state during elections. 

11:51 am: Ex Mumbai Police Chief Casts His Vote

Former Mumbai police commissioner Julio Ribeiro cast his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai’s Worli sea face. 

Ribeiro had earlier written expressing concern over the credibility and functioning of the Election Commission for failing to deal with alleged cases of poll violations, particularly those involving the ruling party.

Read full story here.  

11:45 am: Actor Kangana Ranaut Votes In Mumbai

11:35 am Priya Dutt Casts Vote From Mumbai’s Bandra

11:20 am: Voter Turnout Till 11 am

The total voter turnout in the 72 Lok Sabha constituencies in nine states till 11 am is at 18.08%. 

Here are the state-wise voter turnout percentages: 

Bihar 16.01%

J&K 3.74%

Madhya Pradesh 20.91%

Maharashtra 10.27%

Odisha 14.46%

Rajasthan 19.62%

Uttar Pradesh 20.10%

West Bengal 27.94%

Jharkhand 29.21%

11:11 am: BJP Delegation To Meet Election Commission Over Poll Violence In West Bengal

Reports say that a delegation of BJP leaders including Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vijay Goel will meet the Election Commission over poll violence in West Bengal. 

Clashes broke out in Asansol over the absence of Central forces in a booth. BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car was also vandalised. Supriyo claimed that it was TMC workers who attacked his car. 

Supriyo also claimed on Twitter that there was rigging and booth capturing several areas in Asansol. 

11:10 am: EVMs Malfunction In Panvel, Patlipada In Maharashtra

Hindustan Times reported EVM glitches from Maharashtra’s Patlipada and Panvel (Mumbai). The report said that in Patlipada even though the EVM was replaced in an hour, a lot of voters went home without voting. 

 EVM glitches have also been reported from Kannauj and Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal’s Bolpur. 

11:02 am Sonali Bendre, Bhagyashree, Anupam Kher Cast Their Votes From Mumbai

10:55 am: Actor Rahul Bose Casts Vote, Says ‘May The Best Ideas Win’

10:44 am: Poll Staffer Dies In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara

PTI reports that a 50-year-old polling officer died after suffering a heart attack ahead of polling in the  Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat of Madhya Pradesh. 

Sunanda Kotekar, who was deployed at Lodhikheda polling booth in Saunsar area of Chhindwara, felt uneasy on Sunday night, Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao said. She died of the heart attack even before she could be provided any medical assistance, he added.

The woman and other personnel of the polling team had reached the booth early on Sunday.

Polling began on Monday morning for elections in the state’s six Lok Sabha seats - Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat and Chhindwara - and bypoll to Chhindwara Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Kamal Nath is in the fray.

10:32 am: Modi Urges Voters To Turnout In Record Numbers

Ahead of polling in phase 4 of the Lok Sabha Election 2019 , Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted urging voters to turnout in record numbers. 

Modi said , “Another phase of the General Elections begins today. I hope those voting today do so in large numbers and break the voting records of the previous three phases.

A special appeal to young voters to head to the polling booth and exercise their franchise.”

10:23 am: Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao Vote In Mumbai

10:12 am: BJP MP Babul Supriyo Alleges Rigging, Booth Capturing In Asansol

Even as clashes were reported from West Bengal’s Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, incumbent BJP MP Babul Supriyo tweeted saying three booths in Raniganj had been captured. He also alleged that there was rigging in Majiara, Mitala, Khaskhli, Bhanora Colliery, Dabur Colliery areas in Barabani Bidhansabha .

10:05 am: Voter Turnout Till 10 am

The total voter turnout in the 72 Lok Sabha constituencies in nine states till 10 am is at 10.36%. 

Here are the state wise voter turnout: 

Bihar 10.76%

J&K 0.68%

Maharashtra 6.39%

Odisha 8.34%

Rajasthan 12.27%

Uttar Pradesh 9.87%

West Bengal 16.89%

Jharkhand 12.00%

9:58 am: Police Lathi Charge TMC Workers In Asansol 

A video tweeted by ANI shows security forces clashing with TMC workers  outside polling booth number 125-129 in Asansol. Clashes reportedly broke out after protests over the absence of Central forces at the booth. People have been reportedly injured in clashes.

It was reported earlier that incumbent BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car was vandalised. The MP blamed TMC workers for damaging his car. Supriyo is contesting against TMC’s Moon Moon Sen (profile ). 

NDTV reports that the BJP is planning to approach the Election Commission over the clashes. 

Read full story here . 

9:30 am: Violence In West Bengal’s Asansol, BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s Car Vandalised

Meanwhile, NDTV is showing visuals of violence in West Bengal’s Asansol, and reports that BJP MP Babul Supriyo’s car was vandalised. 

Polling in each and every phase in the state has been marked by violence. 

ANI reported that the clash was between TMC workers and security forces.  

9:24 am: As Voters Protest Absence Of Central Forces, Babul Supriyo Says He Will Bring Them Himself

Even as voters in the Jemua polling in West Bengal’s Asansol protested the absence of Central forces and halted voting, incumbent BJP MP Babul Supriyo said he will take the central forces to the booth himself. 

“I will myself take the central forces to that polling station. It is very good that people in West Bengal are aware and they want central forces so that they can cast their vote. This is why Mamata Banerjee is scared,” Supriyo told ANI. He is contesting against TMC’s Moon Moon Sen (profile ).

9:20 am: Kanhaiya Kumar Casts His Vote

9:05 am: Voting Yet To Beginn In Kannauj Booth Because Of EVM Glitch

In Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, where Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav (profile ) is taking on BJP’s Subrat Pathak, voting is yet to begin in booth 189&196 of Chhibramau area voting because of glitch in EVMs, reported ANI

EVM glitches have also been reported from West Bengal’s Bolpur and Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur. 

8:33 am: Voting Suspended In Asansol Booth As Voters Protest

In West Bengal’s Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, voters of the Jemua polling booth number 222&226 refused to cast their vote because of the absence of security forces in booths. 

Polling has been suspended in the booths. 

8:30 am: Powers That Gave Begusarai Bad Name Will Be Defeated, Says Kanhaiya Kumar

Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Kanhaiya Kumar (profile ), before casting his vote in Bihar’s Begusarai told the media “Begusarai ko badnam karne wali takton ko Begusarai mein muh ki khani padegi. The powers that have given Begusarai a bad name will be defeated.”

Kanhaiya is contesting against BJP’s Giriraj Singh. 

8:00 am: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Votes From Mumbai’s Peddar Road

7:56 am: BJP Candidate From Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan, Casts Vote From Mumbai

7:43 am: Your Vote will Strengthen Democracy, Rajnath Singh Tells Voters

Home Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to urge voters to “ensure a record turnout”, as the fourth phase of polls began on Monday morning. 

Singh said, “The polling for the 4th phase of General Elections begins today. I appeal to the voters to ensure a record turnout.Your vote will not only strengthen the pillars of democracy but it will also help shaping of a New India.”

7:40 am: Rekha Casts Her Vote From Mumbai

7:35 am: EVM Glitch In UP’s Hamirpur, Polling Halted

ANI reports that polling has been halted in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur because of malfunctioning EVMs. 

7:28 am: Vasundhara Raje Votes From Jhalawar, Rajasthan

7:23 am: EVM Glitch In West Bengal’s Bolpur, Voting Yet To Begin

Meanwhile, in West Bengal’s booth number 286/184 and 286/185 in Bolpur, voting is yet to begin because of EVM glitches. 

Glitching EVMs have been reported from across India in the last three phases. In the first phase Andhra Pradesh saw clashes because of EVMs not working.   

7:20 am: Giriraj Singh Casts His Vote

Giriraj Singh, BJP candidate from Begusarai and incumbent MP in Nawada cast his vote early in the morning. 

Singh is contesting against Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Kanhaiya Kumar (profile ).

7:18 am: Anil Ambani Casts Vote In Mumbai

6:30 am: Polling To Begin At 7 am; Urmila, Priya Dutt, Babul Supriyo, Moon Moon Sen In Fray

71 seats across nine states go to poll on Monday in phase 4 of the Lok Sabha elections . As people cast their votes, we bring you live updates through the day — the good, the bad and the ugly.

More than half of India — 303 Lok Sabha constituencies — has already voted in the first three phases of the Lok Sabha Election 2019 that began on 11 April. The polls have been marked by malfunctioning EVMs and missing voters raising questions about the fairness of the entire exercise. Some states like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal also saw widespread clashes between party cadre that resulted in deaths.

While violence was reported from West Bengal during all three phases, the Election Commission has said that 580 central forces are being deployed in phase 4. “We expect this will enable us to cover as many as 100 per cent of the polling stations by central forces,” the Election Commission official told PTI.

For the latest elections news  and more, follow HuffPost India on Twitter , Facebook , and subscribe to our newsletter .

Five seats in Bihar — Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger — will go to polls in phase four, but all eyes will be on Begusarai. Here, Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Kanhaiya Kumar (profile ) will take on BJP’s Giriraj Singh. Kumar made headlines when he was briefly jailed in 2016 on charges of sedition. The PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University saw many famous faces like Swara Bhaskar and Shabana Azmi campaign for him. This is the first time he is contesting polls.

In Darbhanga, cricketer-turned politician Kirti Azad, who became an MP on a BJP ticket, is now contesting from the Congress. He is contesting against BJP’s Gopalji Thakur.

In Uttar Pradesh the electorate in Shahjahanpur, Kheri, Hardoi, Misrikh, Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur , Jalaun, Jhansi and Hamirpur will cast their votes. In Kannauj, Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav (profile ), the only woman from UP to have been elected to the Parliament uncontested, will be contesting against BJP’s Subrat Pathak. She is the incumbent MP who managed to withstand the Modi wave in 2014.

In Unnao, controversial BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj (profile ) is contesting against Samajwadi Party’s Arun Shankar Shuklaa. In the run up to the elections Sakshi Maharaj has threatened to curse everyone from the voters to his own party.

In West Bengal , Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Asansol, Bolpur,  Bardhaman-Durgapur and Birbhum will go to polls. One of the key contests will be fought in Asansol where TMC’s Moon Moon Sen (profile ) will take on Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who is also the incumbent MP in Asansol. Sen is the incumbent MP from Bankura.

In Maharashtra , Nandurbar, Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai South and Mumbai South-Central, Maval and Shirur and Shirdi go to polls. Mumbai has several star candidates. This includes Union Minister Milind Deora  (profile ) from Mumbai South where he is taking on incumbent Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant. Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar (profile ) is contesting on a Congress ticket for the first time from Mumbai north against incumbent BJP MP Gopala Shetty. Priya Dutt (profile ) is contesting from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, which she lost in 2014. She is contesting against BJP’s Poonam Mahajan.

In Rajasthan Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran go to polls. Congress’ Vaibhav Gehlot (profile ) is pitted against BJP’s Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur, which is considered chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s home turf. While the Congress defeated the BJP in the 2018 assembly polls, it remains to be seen if voters will choose Congress candidates in Rajasthan.

This will be the first phase of polling in Madhya Pradesh with six seats going to polls — Sidhi, Shahdol, Mandla, Balaghat, Jabalpur and Chhindwara. While the BJP had swept the state in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress managed to route the BJP out in the Assembly polls held in 2018. Chhindwara, known to be Kamal Nath’s bastion, was one of the seats that the BJP did not win 2014.

Anantnag goes to polls in Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time polls are being held in one Lok Sabha seat in three phases. The constituency has seen a record low voter turnout in these polls.