2024 Lok Sabha Election: 88 Seats Vote in Phase 2 with Over 60.96% Turnout

The Lok Sabha Election Phase 2 will see crucial voting in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. So far, polling has concluded in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tripura, with a recorded voter turnout of over 60.96%. Originally, 89 constituencies were expected to vote in this phase, but polling in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, was rescheduled after the unfortunate demise of a candidate from Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party.

The most notable candidates for this round included the Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel, and Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot. The BJP’s notable candidates included Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, facing off against Congress’s Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram; actors Hema Malini and Arun Govil from the iconic 1980s serial Ramayan; senior BJP leader Tejasvi Surya, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. For both BJP and the Opposition, Karnataka and Kerala are the most crucial states in this phase.

In 2019, the BJP secured victory in 25 of Karnataka’s 28 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress emerged victorious in the last assembly election. The BJP hopes to perform well despite concerns about delimitation and potential disadvantages for southern states. Additionally, the BJP is aiming to establish a presence in the bipolar politics of Kerala.

The Congress hopes for a strong performance in Kerala, with the Left and the Congress competing against each other in the state. Victory by either party would contribute to the Opposition bloc. Kerala is notable for never having sent a BJP member to parliament.

The BJP is seeking to expand its presence in the south and east as it aims for 370 seats, with most of its 2019 victories coming from the Hindi heartland and other bastions. The Congress has proclaimed that it will surpass its 2019 performance, particularly after the first phase of the election. Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav has expressed confidence in winning all five seats in Bihar.

The election is taking place amidst a contentious face-off between the Congress and the BJP, sparked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments about the redistribution of personal wealth and the BJP’s sidelining of important issues. The next phase of the election is scheduled for May 7, with the vote counting set for June 4, three days after the last phase of the election on June 1.