The campaign for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election came to a close on May 18. In this phase, 49 seats, including the notable constituencies of Amethi and Raebareli, are set to vote on May 20.
Throughout the campaign, both the BJP and the INDIA bloc engaged in intense rhetoric. Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress, alleging that the previous UPA government had proposed allocating 15% of the budget to Muslims.
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge promised to increase the allocation of free grains for the poor from 5 kg to 10 kg if his party comes to power.
During his campaign in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Modi warned that the Congress and Samajwadi Party would obstruct the construction of the Ram temple if elected, leading to a complaint lodged by the Congress with the Election Commission.
Out of the 49 seats up for grabs, the BJP won 32 in the 2019 elections, with the Congress securing only Raebareli. This time, the BJP is contesting in 40 seats, while the Congress is vying for 18 seats, leaving the rest to its allies.
This phase features 695 candidates, including 82 women, competing for seats. Notable candidates include Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli, Smrti Irani from Amethi, Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, Piyush Goyal from Mumbai-North, Omar Abdullah from Baramulla, and Rohini Acharya from Saran.
Uttar Pradesh, with 14 seats voting in this phase, holds significant sway in parliamentary elections. Congress strongholds Raebareli and Amethi are among the contested seats. Additionally, Faizabad, which includes Ayodhya, a key area for BJP's Hindutva politics, will also vote.
In Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi campaigned for Rahul Gandhi, expressing confidence in his capabilities. Meanwhile, in Amethi, Priyanka Gandhi lent her support to K.L. Sharma, who is challenging Smriti Irani.
In Delhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal faced controversy as his aide, Bibhav Kumar, was arrested following an assault allegation by AAP MP Swati Maliwal.
All seats in Mumbai will also see polling in this phase. Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress stirred debate within the INDIA bloc by stating her party would only offer outside support if the group forms the government.
With the conclusion of the fifth phase, voting in 25 states and Union Territories will be complete. The next phases are scheduled for May 25 and June 1, with vote counting set for June 4.
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