The voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday to decided the fate of the 88 constituencies spanning 13 states and Union territories.

In this phase, a total of 1,202 candidates, including well-known figures like Rahul Gandhi, Om Birla, and Hema Malini, are vying for electoral success. The polling is set to commence at 7 am across 88 constituencies spanning 13 states and Union territories. This phase marks the continuation of the electoral process, with the remaining five phases scheduled until June 1, followed by the vote count on June 4.

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According to the Election Commission (EC), over 16 lakh polling officials have been deployed at 1.67 lakh polling stations to accommodate more than 15.88 crore eligible voters. The voter demographic comprises 8.08 crore males, 7.8 crore females, and 5,929 third-gender individuals, with 34.8 lakh first-time voters and 3.28 crore young voters aged between 20 and 29 years.

Efforts to enhance voter awareness and facilitate a higher turnout have been intensified. Due to prevailing heatwaves, the EC has extended polling hours in select polling stations across four constituencies in Bihar. Additionally, polling for the Betul seat in Madhya Pradesh has been rescheduled to the third phase following the unfortunate demise of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.

Of the 1,202 candidates, 1,098 are men, 102 are women, and two belong to the third-gender category. The logistics for the electoral process include the deployment of helicopters, special trains, and approximately 80,000 vehicles to transport polling and security personnel.

To ensure transparency, webcasting will cover over 50 percent of polling stations, supplemented by the presence of micro-observers at all polling stations. Most polling stations across states and Union territories, except Bihar and Kerala, have an average of fewer than 1,000 voters per station.

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Key contenders in the second phase include Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, along with actor-turned-politician Arun Govil, competing against BJP stalwarts such as Hema Malini, Om Birla, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who are aiming for a third consecutive victory in their respective constituencies.