As polling began on Monday for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in 51 constituencies spread across seven states, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, BSP supremo Mayawati were among those who turned up early to cast their votes.
Union Home Minister and Lucknow BJP candidate Rajnath Singh expressed confidence about BJP getting a full majority and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a second term. Rajnath Singh’s son Pankaj Singh also cast his votes at a polling booth in Lucknow.
#IndiaDecides2019 | Home Minister and Lucknow BJP Candidate @rajnathsingh casts his vote at polling booth 333 in Scholars’ Home School pic.twitter.com/OraapEOlhG
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 6, 2019
“I leave it to voters. The right to write the character role of a candidate lies with voters of the constituency. I am assured that BJP will get a full majority and Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister again,” said Rajnath Singh.
BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati also turned up early to exercise her franchise at a Lucknow polling booth.
BSP Chief @Mayawati casts her vote at a polling booth in City Montessori Inter College in Lucknow. #LokSabhaElections2019#IndiaDecides2019 #Phase5 #VotingRound5https://t.co/2wHVBjnjOs pic.twitter.com/XwmQ8GKGmj
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 6, 2019
“The value of the vote of everyone is the same either poor or rich. I request all to come out and exercise their right to vote. I request all voters to go to their respective polling booths and use their vote for the country and public welfare. Youth, elder and women all should come in large number for the vote,” said Mayawati.
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Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha cast his vote at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. His son Union Minister Jayant Sinha is contesting against Congress’ Gopal Sahu and CPI’s Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta from the constituency.
Hazaribagh: Former Union Min Yashwant Sinha & wife Nilima Sinha arrive at a polling booth to cast vote for #LokSabhaElections2019 . His son & Union Minister Jayant Sinha is contesting against Congress' Gopal Sahu & CPI's Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta from the constituency. #Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/r0F9V9Fffr
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2019
“In 2014 I decided on my own that I will not contest because you are seeing what happened with others. Now my son is in the fray,” said Yashwant Sinha.
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and his wife Gayatri Rathore cast their votes in Jaipur.
Union Minister @Ra_THORe and his wife Gayatri Rathore arrive at a polling station in #Jaipur to cast their vote for #LokSabhaElections2019 #IndiaDecides2019 pic.twitter.com/k9TB8VUMK4
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 6, 2019
Polling for the fifth phase began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, amid elaborate security arrangements.
Voting is underway in some seats of Bihar (5), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Jharkhand (4), Madhya Pradesh (7), Rajasthan (12), Uttar Pradesh (14) and West Bengal (7). Counting of votes will take place on May 23.