Lok Sabha polls: As it happened in phase four

Thousands of people queued up outside the polling booths on Saturday to vote for seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, Goa, Sikkim and Tripura.

Zee Media Bureau

7:05 pm: Turnout between 71 to 82 per cent in Tripura, Assam, Sikkim

Between 71 to 82 per cent polling was registered in five Lok Sabha seats in the eastern states of Tripura, Assam and of Sikkim in the fourth phase of the polls.

Tripura registered the highest of 82 per cent in one Lok Sabha seat, Assam 72 per cent in three parliamentary seats and Sikkim 71 per cent in one LS and 32 Assembly seats, election office sources said.

In Congress-ruled Assam, voter turnout was the highest in Silchar recording 74 per cent polling followed by Karimganj (SC) constituency with 72 per cent and Autonomous District (ST) comprising Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts 71 per cent, the sources said.

The sources said the exact percentage would be available late at night as thousands of people were still standing in queue when polling ended at 5:00 pm. —PTI

6: 40 pm: Over 75% polling in Tripura till 4 pm

Over 75 per cent voters had cast their votes till 4pm in East Tripura (ST) constituency, election officials said.

Eleven EVMs malfunctioned during the poll process which was replaced immediately, they said.

The constituency had witnessed an average of 83 per cent voter turnout in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Incidentally, the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat alone saw 86.2 per cent turnout including postal ballot during the first phase of polling last Monday (April 7). — PTI

6: 00 pm: Brisk polling marks phase four

75 % polling in 2 seats in Goa, 75 % for 3 Assam seats,
81.8 % for 1 seat in Tripura, 76 per cent for 1 one Lok Sabha and 32 assembly seats in Sikkim.

2: 40 pm: Goa records 50% voting till 2 pm

Over half of the electorate voted today in Goa by early afternoon to elect two Lok Sabha members.

Nearly 54 percent of Goa`s 1,057,499 voters had cast their ballots since polling started at 7 am, said officials - IANS

2: 27 pm: Two-third polling in Tripura till 2 pm

Around 66 percent voters, the majority of them tribals, cast their ballots till 2 p.m. Saturday, an election commission official said.

"Balloting took place in tribal reserve Tripura East constituency with no untoward incident reported so far. The polling was absolutely peaceful in the parliamentary constituency," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal told IANS.

2: 15 pm: Over 50% polling in Assam till 2 pm

Over 52 percent polling was recorded till 1 pm in Assam. The voting process in three Lok Sabha constituencies remained peaceful.

Voting was slowing in the early hours but picked up soon. For the second phase of polls, 37 candidates are in the fray.

1: 55 pm 37 percent voting in Assam till noon

Around 37 percent electorates cast their vote in Assam till noon.

EVM malfunction was reported from the Autonomous District and Karimganj constituencies but they were replaced and voting continued uninterrupted, the sources said.

1: 50 pm Over 55 per cent polling in Tripura till noon

Over 55 percent turnout was recorded till noon in East Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, election officials said.

According to reports, nine EVMs malfunctioned in the early hours in some polling stations and were replaced immediately.

Women tribal voters outnumbered menfolk in the polling booths in rural and hilly areas of the state, which is witnessing the second phase of polling – PTI reports
11:50 am: Long queue in Goa

Long queues formed Saturday at polling stations across Goa where balloting is being held in both its Lok Sabha constituencies.

Nearly 13 percent of Goa`s 1,057,499 voters cast ballot within the first two hours since polling started at 7 a.m., officials said - IANS

11:45 am: Moderate turnout in Sikkim

Around 12 percent of the electorate had voted in the first two hours, an election official said.

The official said that the turnout is expected to pick up as the day progresses.

Six candidates are in the fray. Sitting MP Prem Das Rai of the Sikkim Democratic Front is re-contesting, while Akar Dhoj Limbu (Congress), Nar Bahadur Khatiwara (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Kaushal Rai (Aam Aadmi Party) are hoping to give him a fight.

11:15 am: 30 percent turnout in Tripura in early hours

Election officials said that a third of the electorate cast their ballot till 10 am. Voting in underway for the second Lok Sabha seat in Left ruled Tripura.

According to Election Commission officials, balloting took place in tribal reserve Tripura East constituency with no untoward incidents reported so far - IANS

10:40 am: Brisk polling in Assam

As voting begins for the three Lok Sabha seats, election officials said that 11.40 percent polling was recorded in the first two hours.

There were few technical snags reported in some polling station. The election officials said that the voting is expected to pick up soon.

8:02 am: Balloting starts in Assam

Voting for three Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam began on Saturday. Nearly 30 million are eligible to vote in these three constituencies.

Polling for five constituencies in the state was held April 7. The last phase of polling for remaining six seats takes place in the state April 24.

8:02 am: Polling starts in Tripura

Voting in Tripura for its second Lok Sabha constituency has begun. Over 1.13 million strong electorate, half of them women, are eligible to vote.

The polling will be held at 1,490 polling stations across the Tripura East constituency.

The tribal reserved constituency has 12 candidates, including two women, who are in the fray.

8:00 am: Voting begins in Sikkim for lone seat

Voting in Sikkim began at 7 am today for the lone Lok Sabha constituency. Just six candidates are in the fray.

A total 362,326 electorate, including 175,549 women will exercise their franchise in the state.

7:50 am Polling for 2 seats in Goa begins

Voting for two Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa began today. The state witnesses a triangular fight between the BJP, Congress and the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party.

With a thin turnout in the first half an hour, polling began on a sedate note at 7 am at all the 1,624 stations .

In all, 10,60,777 electorates are eligible to vote in the North and South Goa constituencies.

8:00 am: Lok Sabha and Assembly polls voting begins in Sikkim

Around 3,70,731 registered voters have been registered to vote for 121 candidates in the Assembly elections.

Out of these, around 1,79,650 voters are females.

The voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls will decide the fate of 3 seats in Assam, 2 in Goa and one each in Sikkim and Tripura.
Around 50 lakh voters will vote for 74 candidates in the four states.
Prominent candidates from North Goa include Ravi Naik (Congress), BJP`s sitting MP Shripad Naik and Aam Aadmi Party`s Dattaram Desai. From the South Goa seat, Congress` Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, BJP`s Narendra Sawaikar and AAP`s Swati Kerkar are among the prominent contenders.

State-wise updates

Goa (2)

Assam (3)

Sikkim (1)

Tripura (1)