The sixth phase of the 2024 Indian Lok Sabha election is set to take place on May 25, with voting in 58 constituencies across eight states and union territories. This phase is crucial as it will determine the outcome for approximately 90% of the Lok sabha seats after completing Voting.
Delhi: AAP-Congress Alliance vs BJP
All seven seats will go to the polls in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with a fierce contest expected between the AAP-Congress alliance and the BJP. key candidates include Bansuri Sweaj (BJP) vs. Somnath Bharti (AAP) in New Delhi, Manoj Tiwari (BJP) vs. Kanhaiya Kumar (Congress) in North East Delhi, and Praveen Khandelwal (BJP) vs. Jai Agarwal (Congress) in Chandi Chowk.
Haryana: BJP Stronghold
Haryana, with all 10 seats participating in this phase, has been a stronghold for the BJP in recent elections. The key constituencies include Ambala, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Hisar, Karnal, Sonipat, Rohtak, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. The contest will be closely watched, with the BJP aiming to maintain its dominance in the state.
Uttar Pradesh: Crucial Battleground
Uttar Pradesh, often referred to as the political heartland of India, will see voting in 14 constituencies during this phase. Some of the key constituencies include Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, and Jaunpur. The BJP will face challenges from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and other regional parties in these seats.
Bihar: Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) vs Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD
In Bihar, eight seats will go to the polls, with a battle between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The constituencies include Valmiki Nagar, Paschim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishalu, Gopalganj, Siwan, and Maharajganj.
Jharkhand: BJP Seeks to Retain Strongholds
Jharkhand, with four seats participating in this phase, has been a stronghold for the BJP in recent elections. The Key constituencies include Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur. The BJP will aim to maintain its dominance in the state, while the opposition parties will try to make inroads.
Odisha: BJD vs BJP
In Odisha, Six Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly constituencies will go to the polls simultaneously. The key Lok Sabha seats include Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri, and Bhubaneswar. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will face a challenge from the BJP, which has made significant gains in the state in recent elections.
West Bengal: TMC vs BJP
West Bengal will see voting in eight Lok Sabha seats during this phase. The constituencies include Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) will face a tough challenge from the BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition party in the state.
Key Candidates to Watch
Some of the prominent candidates in this phase include:
- Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president, contesting from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Maneka Gandhi, Bjp candidate from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh
- Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’, BJP candidate from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh
- Sambit Patra, BJP candidate from Puri in Odisha
- Abhijit Gangopadhyay, former Calcutta High Court judge, contesting as an independent West Bengal.
Voter Turnout and Security Measures
In the previous voting, the voter turnout was 64.9%, while the overall voting percentage in the first six phases was 67.7%. The Election Commission has taken stringent measures to ensure free and fair polling, with multi-layered security arrangements and special provides for critical and model polling booths.
Conclusion
The sixth phase of the 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections is set to be a crucial battleground, with high-stakes contests in key states like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. The outcome of this phase will significantly impact the overall result of the elections as it will determine the fate of approximately 90% of the Lok Sabha seats. Voters will have their say in shaping the future of the nation, and the results will be eagerly awaited on June 4, 2024.