High stakes for BJP in 3rd phase of Lok Sabha elections; PM Modi, Amit Shah to cast ballots in Gandhinagar

On Tuesday, voting commenced in 93 constituencies across 11 states and Union Territories, marking the crucial third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This phase holds particular significance for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won a significant majority of these seats in the previous 2019 Lok Sabha elections, bolstering the NDA's commanding majority.

Candidates and Key Figures

A total of over 1,300 candidates, including approximately 120 women, are contending for seats in the lower house of Parliament. Notable figures like Union ministers Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Mansukh Mandaviya, along with former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Digvijaya Singh, await the electorate's verdict on May 7.

Key Contests and Candidates

Among the significant BJP candidates in this phase are Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot, Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad, and SP Singh Baghel from Agra. With Surat already secured by the BJP uncontested, the focus shifts to the remaining seats in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, and Goa.

Noteworthy Battles

A compelling contest unfolds in Maharashtra's Baramati, where the Pawar family members face off. NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule competes against Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Sharad Pawar's estranged nephew.

Familial Legacy

The late Mulayam Singh Yadav's family is also under the electoral spotlight, with three members contesting. Akshay Yadav seeks to reclaim the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat, while Aditya Yadav makes his electoral debut from Budaun. Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai and AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal are other notable contenders in this phase.

Voting Details

Approximately 17.24 crore eligible voters, including 8.39 crore females, will participate in this phase, with 1.85 lakh polling stations and 18.5 lakh officials overseeing the electoral process.

Upcoming Phases

Following the completion of voting in 189 seats across the first two phases, the subsequent phases are scheduled for May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, with the final vote count slated for June 4.