We are in the fifth phase of the elections now. 51 constituencies across 7 states went to polling on 6 May. Several political bigwigs like Mayawati, Jayant Sinha, Rajnath Singh and Yashwant Sinha came out to vote. The seats to watch out for in this phase are the traditional strongholds of Congress, Rae Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Smriti Irani are also in the fray. This is also the first election in Ladakh division following its split from the Kashmir division earlier this year. Polling was held in 7 seats of West Bengal and yet again there are reported incidences of poll violence from this state. The BJP has asked for a repoll in Barrackpore constituency alleging violence by TMC workers on voters. Union minister Prakash Javadekar accused TMC “goons” of booth-capturing and not letting BJP voters cast their votes. In another part of West Bengal, people of Sabar tribe have called for a boycott of the elections due to unavailability of electricity in their houses. In Amethi where Smriti Irani is facing Rahul Gandhi for the second time there are some allegations of booth capturing. BJP minister Smriti Irani alleged booth capturing by Congress in the constituency and asked Election Commission to take note of the matter. In another incidence of violence, a bomb went off in Jammu and Kashmir outside the polling booths. Militants threw a grenade at a polling station in Pulwama district where polling was underway for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far. And some good news for Maharashtra, the Election Commission allowed the relaxation of the model code of conduct to allow the state government to undertake drought relief measures.
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