Campaigning for the second phase of LS elections in full swing

Electioneering has reached its peak for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections as only two days are left for the campaigning to end. Ninety-seven constituencies, spread over 12 States and one Union Territory, will go to polls in the second phase on Thursday. Top leaders of various political parties are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters.

Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed rallies at Kathua in Jammu and Aligarh and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. Mr Modi said, his government is committed to eradicating terrorism, corruption and poverty, while the Opposition parties want to remove him.

Today, BJP President Amit Shah will address a public meeting at Gir Somnath in Gujarat. He will also hold a roadshow at Banaskantha in the state. Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address a rally at Fatehpur Sikri constituency in Agra, Uttar Pradesh today. 

"BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Mahesh Sharma including others will participate in



rallies and meetings at Mathura, Fatehpur Sikri, Badayun, Rampur and other places. BSP Supremo Mayawati is slated to address meetings at Aligarh and Amroha. Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav will campaign in Kasganj and Moradabad today. 

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow at Silchar in Assam yesterday. She said, Congress granted special status to Assam but the BJP removed it after assuming power.

In the second phase, voting will be held in all 39 constituencies of Tamil Nadu. Other Parliamentary constituencies are 14 in Karnataka; 10 in Maharashtra; 8 in Uttar Pradesh; five each in Assam, Bihar and Odisha; 3 each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal; two in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in Manipur, Tripura and Puducherry.

Seven-phase polling was announced for the 543-member Lok Sabha. A voter turnout of 69.43 per cent was recorded in the first phase. Counting of votes for all the phases will be taken up on 23rd May.