Lok Sabha election, phase 6: Polling begins in 6 states, 2 union territories

Several business tycoons and some of this election's wealthiest candidates are in the fray in this phase.

The wealthiest candidate in this phase, BJP leader Naveen Jindal with over Rs 1,241 crore in assets, will contest from Kurukshetra in Haryana, taking on Sushil Gupta of the Aam Aadmi Party (himself worth over Rs 169 crore in assets) as well as the Indian National Lok Dal’s secretary and the party’s lone MLA Abhay Chautala. 

Rohtak is another Haryana seat set for a high-profile battle between Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda, who lost narrowly last time, and incumbent MP Arvind Sharma. It is a battle of prestige for Hooda and his father and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Also in the fray is independent candidate Master Randhir Singh, who has the lowest declaration of total assets at Rs 2!

In phase six, Uttar Pradesh received the highest number of nomination forms, 470 from 14 parliamentary constituencies, followed by Haryana with 370 nominations from 10 constituencies.

There are over 8.93 lakh registered voters expected to cast their ballots in this phase who are aged over 85, as well as 23,659 voters aged above 100.

There are 9.58 lakh PwD (persons with disabilities) voting in this phase, who have been provided with the option to vote from their homes.

There will be 2,222 flying squads, 2,295 static surveillance teams, 819 video surveillance teams and 569 video viewing teams monitoring the polls today.

Today, 25 May, Saturday, 58 constituencies across six states and two union territories will go to polls, including the seven parliamentary seats in the national capital region.

In Odisha, 42 assembly seats are also voting concurrently.

Of these seats, the BJP had won 40 in the 2019 elections, and the Congress not even one.

The states going to the polls are Bihar (8 seats), Haryana (all 10 constituencies), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Jharkhand (4), Delhi (all 7), Odisha (6), Uttar Pradesh (14) and West Bengal (8).

Polling in the Anantnag–Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir was rescheduled by the Election Commission last month from 7 May to 20 May citing "logistical reasons".