Fourth Phase Of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: An Analysis
As India moves the fourth Phase of Lok Sabha elections out of the seven phases on May 13, the country is set to pass the halfway mark in the world’s largest electoral exercise. The seven-phase general elections have been scheduled as: Phase One- April 19, Phase Two- April 26, Phase Three- May 7, Phase Four- May 13, Phase Five- May 20 and Phase Six- May 25, with the final seventh phase on June 1. The result will be declared on June 4.
It is worth noting that the voter turnout has been significantly reduced compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in all three phases conducted so far. The voter turnout recorded 64.4 per cent after the three phases of elections, registering a dip from 67.33 per cent in 2019. Each phase has seen a decrease in voter percentage compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Lok sabha elections 2024 phase 4: Important things to know
However, the heat of the Lok Sabha elections has been soaring with each phase, and the political parties and the public are attentively watching each development. The fourth phase covers many key constituencies and prominent figures including expelled Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, actor-turned-politician Madhavi Latha, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Union Minister Arun Munda. The polling will begin from 7 am and end by 6 PM.
Notably, the fourth phase includes constituencies from ten states and union territories – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will vote for all its 25 and 17 Lok Sabha respectively. 13 constituencies out of the total 80 in Uttar Pradesh would vote, while 11 seats would exercise their franchises from Maharashtra.
Out of the total 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, eight constituencies will vote in the fourth phase. Eight seats in West Bengal, five seats in Bihar and Jharkhand each, four seats in Odisha, and one seat in Jammu Kashmir are the other constituencies that will go to the polling booth on May 13.
Lok Sabha elections phase 4: Key constituencies and candidates
Lok Sabha elections phase 4: Key constituencies and candidates
Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency (Uttar Pradesh): Akhilesh Yadav Vs Subrat Pathak:
Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh is one of the political hotspots of the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections. Former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is all set to take on the BJP”s sitting MP Subrat Pathak in the SP”s former stronghold. The BJP”s Subrat Pathak secured the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by defeating the then-sitting MP and Samajwadi party leader Dimple Yadav by a narrow margin. After winning the seat from the BJP in 1996, Akhilesh Yadav”s party retained it till 2019. Notably, the saffron party has renominated the sitting MP Subrat Pathak.
The entry of the SP chief has made the constituency witness an exciting and fierce electoral battle between the BJP and SP candidates. While SP, an INDIA bloc member, appears determined to wrest back its decade-long stronghold, Kannauj, the BJP is also making every effort to retain the seat. streets across the constituency are abuzz with party workers campaigning for their candidates.
Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency (West Bengal): Mahua Moitra Vs Amrita Roy:
Another constituency that invites much attention from the nation in the fourth phase is Krishnanagar, from which TMC”s expelled MP Mahua Moitra is contesting. Mahua was disqualified as an MP following the alleged cash-for-query case. A Trinamool Congress fortress in recent times, the party has been representing the constituency for the past three general elections consecutively. Notably, a party with the second biggest vote share in the seat has been the BJP, which has only represented the constituency in 1999.
The BJP has fielded Amrita Roy to take on the TMC popular leader. It is worth noting that pushing the CPM back, the saffron party has come second, securing a 40.37 per cent vote share in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a 5 per cent away from defeating the TMC leader. However, the battle for the ongoing general election from the seat has become more exciting than ever.
Baharampur Lok Sabha Constituency (West Bengal): Yusuf Pathan Vs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury:
Making the electoral battle inserting in Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency constituency in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress fielded former cricketer Yusuf Pathan against the state Congress chief and sitting MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is vying for another term. Reflecting an anti-incumbency, the five-time Congress MP”s vote share has reduced over the past few general elections.
With the TMC nominating the popular cricketer, the party, which has improved its performance in the recent elections, hopes to wrest the seat from the grand old party”s hold. Despite being an INDIA bloc member, the TMC had decided to contest the elections alone.
Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency (Telangana): Asaduddin Owaisi Vs Madhavi Latha:
Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, the AIIM”s traditional bastion and the Asaduddin Owaisi”s seat became a focus point when the BJP fielded actor-turned-politician Madhavi Latha against the sitting MP. Owaisi has been consecutively representing the seat since 2004. Notably, the BJP candidate invited criticisms following her alleged gesture of turning an arrow towards a Masjid”s direction. The saffron party has been aggressively campaigning to capture the AIIM”s stronghold.
Khunti Lok Sabha constituency (Jharkhand): Arjun Munda Vs Kali Charan Munda:
Khunti constituency would witness an intense fight between the BJP and the grand old party”s candidates as the saffron party renominated the sitting MP and Union Minister Arjun Munda from the seat. Arjun Munda won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with only around 1000 votes majority, making his survival on question mark in the ongoing general elections. The BJP has been representing the constituency since 2009 after wresting the seat from the Congress.
Notably, with the grand old party fielding Kali Charan Munda in 2019, the party revived its vote bank, securing more than 45 per cent vote share, and the party has fielded him again this time. Becoming one of the hottest seats, both parties have been aggressively campaigning to secure victory in the constituency. It is learnt that the BJP candidate and former Jharkhand Chief Minister may face the resentment of Kurmi voters for not including Kudmi/Kurmi in the tribal list.
