Agra, Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election 2024: Voting for the 3rd Phase of LS Polls

UP Lok Sabha Election 2024 - (Photo: PTI)

Polling for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, has seen a 43.67% voter turnout in five hours. In 2019 the voters were 59.11%. This time, the BJP has re-nominated Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, S P Singh Baghel, indicating a strong commitment to retaining the seat. Challenging the BJP's dominance, both the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance and the BSP have fielded Jatav Dalit candidates for the seat – Suresh Chand Kardam and Pooja Amrohi, respectively. Stay tuned for the latest updates from the Agra Lok Sabha elections.

Agra, situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, serves as a significant parliamentary constituency comprising five assembly segments: Etmadpur, Agra Cantt., Agra South, Agra North, and Jalesar. As the electoral process unfolds, voters in Agra will play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the candidates vying for representation in the Lok Sabha. The counting of votes will take place on June 4th.

The 2019 General Assembly Elections in Agra unfolded as a fiercely contested battle, ultimately resulting in a resounding victory for BJP candidate Satyapal Singh Baghel. Baghel emerged triumphant with an impressive margin of 2,11,546 votes, securing a total of 6,46,875 votes. His closest competitor, Manoj Kumar Soni of the BSP, garnered 4,35,329 votes, falling short in the electoral race.

Reflecting the diverse demographic composition of the region, Agra stands as a crucial constituency within Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 elections, voter participation was commendable, with a notable 59.18% voter turnout, underscoring the electorate's active engagement in the democratic process and the significance of their voice in shaping the political landscape of the constituency.

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In this Scheduled Caste (SC)-reserved seat, Dalits constitute approximately 30% of the 20.57 lakh voters, with the majority being Jatav Dalits. Despite concerns over its declining performance, particularly among Jatav Dalits, the BSP still commands significant support within this demographic.

Despite the BSP's stronghold, the Agra, UP, Lok Sabha 2024 seat has been secured by the BJP in the past three elections. This time, the BJP has re-nominated Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, S P Singh Baghel, indicating a strong commitment to retaining the seat.

Challenging the BJP's dominance, both the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance and the BSP have fielded Jatav Dalit candidates for the seat – Suresh Chand Kardam and Pooja Amrohi, respectively. This underscores the strategic importance of Dalit voters in the electoral calculus and highlights the competitive nature of the upcoming elections in Agra.

The candidates in the fray in Agra: