New Delhi: As the second phase of Lok Sabha elections approaches, millions of voters are bracing themselves for scorching heat and heat waves while casting their votes across 88 seats in 13 states and union territories. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for several regions, including West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, over the next five days.
Heat Wave Alerts and Voting Details:
- Red Alert: West Bengal and Odisha
- Orange Alert: Some parts of Bihar and Karnataka
The IMD also highlights potential problems due to excess moisture in Tripura, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, Meghalaya, and Goa. In this crucial election phase, voters will head to the polls on Friday, with key battlegrounds including:
- Kerala: All 20 seats
- Karnataka: 14 out of 28 seats
- Rajasthan: 13 seats
- Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh: 8 seats each
- Madhya Pradesh: 6 seats
- Assam and Bihar: 5 seats each
- Chhattisgarh and West Bengal: 5 seats each
- Manipur, Tripura, and Jammu and Kashmir: 3 seats each
Weather Conditions and Relief:
- While heatwave conditions persist in Odisha since April 15 and in West Bengal since April 17, there is a glimmer of relief. The Meteorological Department predicts strong winds and light rain in parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh on Friday, providing respite from the scorching weather.
Prominent Candidates and Voter Statistics:
- A total of 1206 candidates, including four from the ‘Outer’ Manipur constituency, are in the fray during this phase.
- Notable candidates include Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar, actor Arun Govil, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh (Congress).
- Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy (Janata Dal-Secular) is also vying for a seat.
- BJP candidates Hema Malini, Om Birla, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seek third consecutive victories from their respective constituencies.
Voter Demographics:
- A staggering 16 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase.
- Polling stations, totaling 1.67 lakh, have been set up across the states.
- Male voters account for 8.08 crore, female voters for 7.8 crore, and there are 5969 third-gender voters.
- The Election Commission closely monitors more than 50 percent of polling stations through CCTV.
- Notably, there are 14.28 lakh elderly voters aged above 85 years and 42,226 centenarian voters.
- Additionally, 14.7 lakh disabled voters exercise their democratic rights.
As the nation gears up for this critical electoral phase, all eyes are on the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeks re-election for the second consecutive time.
