BJP issues show-cause notice to sitting Hazaribagh MP Jayant Sinha for skipping campaigning after party chooses new candidate.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "Four phases of elections were already completed, today the fifth phase took place. The wave that was there in the country in the first four phases has become a tsunami in the fifth phase, 'Modi ki tsunami'...There is only one voice in the whole country 'Phir ek baar Modi sarkar'..."

 BJP and BJD supporters clashed at a polling booth in Rourkela Assembly constituency earlier today. More details awaited. 

Once dubbed "chhota Pakistan", Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town witnessed a remarkable shift as voters flocked to polling stations to exercise their franchise in the Lok Sabha elections, marking a departure from the low participation witnessed in previous polls.

Formerly a hotbed of militancy and dominated by foreign terrorists in the 1990s, Sopore and Rafiabad areas experienced a resurgence of electoral engagement with a high voter turnout.

Sopore, lying in the Baramulla district, is a part of the Baramulla constituency. (With inputs from PTI) 

"I would request the Bahujan Samaj (Party) to help the INDIA alliance to save the Constitution... The (INDIA) alliance will surely form the government," said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

On Congress workers allegedly pelting stones during her rally in Kaza, BJP candidate from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut says, "We were attached our vehicles were attacked. Congress had organised a violent protest. I think they now know that they have lost the seat, so they are coming on the roads. Two of our party workers have been seriously injured...It is very sad that they are stopping to such a level..."

Bihar: EVMs & VVPATS are being sealed at a polling booth in Chapra, Saran District, as voting for the fifth phase of elections concludes. 

EVMs & VVPATs Being Sealed at Polling Booth in Chapra, Saran As Voting For Fifth Phase Concludes 

Bihar - 34.62 % 
Jammu and Kashmir-34.79%
Jharkhand- 41.89% 
Ladakh- 52.02%
Maharashtra-27.78%
Odisha-35.31%
Uttar Pradesh-39.55%
West Bengal-48.41%

"Your excitement is telling me that Odisha is going to make history after 25 years. It’s decided that on June 10, the first BJP CM of Odisha will take the oath, and with your blessings Modi’s government will also take the oath in Delhi. Cuttack is amongst the most historic cities in India. It’s a place to strengthen the resolution of ‘Viksit Bharat,' PM said.
 

After Dhenkanal, the PM addressed a rally in Cuttack. Launching a scathing attack on BJD, the Prime Minister said, “Odisha is blessed with rich culture and is the land of several greats. But the BJD is disrespecting the Odia culture time and again.”

"Hardly there will be any block in Odisha from where people have not gone to Gujarat to get a job. The state which is so prosperous, this election is to punish all those who have destroyed the state..."

As the voting for the fifth phase is still underway, an approximate voter turnout of 23.66 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Monday in 49 constituencies in six states and two Union Territories in the Lok Sabha elections.

Maharashtra recorded the lowest voter turnout till 11 am with 15.93 per cent of voters exercising their franchise, West Bengal recorded the highest voting percentage with 32.70 per cent.

Bihar 21.11%  
Jammu & Kashmir 21.37% 
Jharkhand 26.18% 
Ladakh 27.87% 
Maharashtra 15.93% 
Odisha 21.07% 
Uttar Pradesh 27.76%
West Bengal 32.70%

BJP MP and party's national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cast his vote at a polling booth in Lucknow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, May 20, addressed a rally in Odisha's Dhenkanal. He urged voters to come out in as many numbers as possibly top vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

"'Ghar-ghar se ek hi awaaj aa rahi hai - Odisha me pehali baar double engine ki sarkar'... Today the entire Odisha is thinking that they have given 25 years to the BJD govt but what they have got in these years?" PM said. 

Union Defence Minister and sitting MP and BJP candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, Singh arrived at the polling station to cast his vote.

Samajwadi Party has fielded Ravidas Mehrotra from this seat.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde casts his vote at a polling booth in Thane. "All the important decisions have been taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last 10 years. So I am confident that the people of Maharashtra are going to vote for Mahayuti," he said.
 

After casting his vote, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Ujiarpur Lok Sabha seat Nityanand Rai said, "I have cast my vote. I appeal to people to vote. We are winning all 40 seats in Bihar."
 

Bihar: 8.86%

Jammu and Kashmir: 7.63%

Jharkhand: 11.68%

Ladakh: 10.51%

Maharashtra: 6.33%

Odisha: 6.87

UP: 12.89%

West Bengal: 15.35%

BJP MP and candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha seat, Smriti Irani cast her vote at polling station in Amethi for Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

“I urge everyone to go to your polling booths and cast your votes to be a part of this celebration. It is our responsibility towards India and the country's development,” she said.

After casting her vote, wife of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren & JMM candidate for Gandey assembly by-election, Kalpana Soren, said, "I would like to appeal to voters in Gandey, Koderma and Hazaribagh to step out and vote. Celebrate this festival with joy and enthusiasm...People of Gandey have blessed us earlier too. They are going to bless us again...These elections are about BJP versus the public. I am people's candidate, they are going to give full support to INDIA Alliance..."

As polling began in 49 constituencies for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged people to vote for love and not hatred and cast their ballot against unemployment and inflation.

In a post published on Monday, Kharge said, "If we want to protect democracy and the Constitution, we must vote. Before pressing the button on EVM, remember that we should vote for love and brotherhood, not for hatred." "We have to vote against unemployment and inflation, not to make a few capitalists richer. We have to vote for the protection of our fundamental rights, not for those who snatch our rights."
 

After casting his vote, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said, "It's a very proud moment for every Indian. It's a moment of pride to participate in an election of 140 crore people. The process of voting today was very smooth and I would like to congratulate the Election Commission of India and all the officials who have been working throughout the country. It's really a moment of pride for every indian to vote in these elections. I appeal to every voter to come out and vote..."

After casting his vote, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, "I appeal to all the voters to come and out for the resolve of Viksit Bharat. We are winning all 80 seats of the state including Amethi and Raebareli."

As voting is being held for the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency today. The constituency sees a contest among NC's Omar Abdullah, PDP's Mir Mohammad Fayaz and JKPC's Sajad Lone. Long queues could been seen of voters at the polling stations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a roadshow in Puri, Odisha, on Monday. Party's candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat, Sambit Patra is with him. 

Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti after casting her vote said, "Voting is important in a democracy. This is a national festival and people have the right to choose their representative. I appeal to people to come out and vote for the development of the nation and also for the conservation of the spiritual and religious heritage of the country...'Jo Ram ko laaye hain. hum unko laayenge'."

BJP's Raebareli candidate, Dinesh Pratap Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in   Raebareli. Meanwhile, Congress has fielded Rahul Gandhi from the Raebareli seat.
 

BJP's Raebareli candidate, Dinesh Pratap Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in   Raebareli. Meanwhile, Congress has fielded Rahul Gandhi from the Raebareli seat.

Industrialist Anil Ambani casts his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai, for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Piyush Goyal arrives at a polling station in Mumbai to cast his vote for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

As voting is underway for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar flaunted his inked finger. He said, "I want that my country remains strong and keeps growing and I have voted keeping it in mind. And more people should come to cast their vote to whoever they deem suitable."

BSP president and former UP CM Mayawati after casting her vote urged people to vote, "I appeal to the people to come out and go to their polling booths and cast their votes."

Voting for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in 49 constituencies across 8 states and Union Territories (UTs) begins.

Simultaneous polling is being held in 35 Assembly constituencies in Odisha.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged female and young voters to come and vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections. His post read, "As 49 seats across 8 states and UTs go to the polls today in the 5th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, urging all those whose constituencies are polling today to vote in record numbers. I specially call upon women voters and young voters to exercise their franchise."

A total of eight states/UTs going for polls in phase 5 are - Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Cities like Mumbai, Thane, Lucknow are going to polls in this phase.

Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 are from Maharashtra, 7 are from West Bengal, 5 are from Bihar, 3 are from Jharkhand, 5 are from Odisha and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The fifth phase will involve key contests in various constituencies. BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, Congress' Rahul Gandhi, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will be looking for electoral success.

On Monday, May 20, as many as 40 seats across six states and two union territories will go to polls. Some 695 candidates included high-profile names like Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal and in opposition Rahul Gandhi is also among the candidates for the fifth phase. 
 

The voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 is all set commence at 7 am on May 20, Monday.