Lok Sabha Elections Phase 5: Polling begins in 51 constituencies in 7 states; Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rajnath Singh in fray

Polling in 51 constituencies in 7 states has begun for the phase 5 of Lok Sabha Elections. A number of profound candidates line-up as their fate will be decided today. High profile candidates who are in the fray today are Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, including Smriti Irani, Rajyavardhan Rathore is up for election in the fifth of the seven phases of the Lok Sabha election today.

In the fifth phase, in only 51 constituencies seats across seven states will go out to vote. Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election for a fourth consecutive term from Bastian Amethi. He is in the face-off battle with BJP's Smriti Irani, whom he defeats from the seat in 2014. However, apart from Amethi, Gandhi is also contesting from Kerala's Wayanad.

Meanwhile, amid specuation of retirement UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is contesting from family turf  Rae Bareli. She is seeking a fourth term from neighbouring constituency of her son Rahul.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is seeking re-election from Lucknow. Well, nawabs city has witnessed a new entry in this national poll, Poonam Sinha-- wife of Shatrughan Sinha--- former BJP MP from Patna Sahib now Congress candidate from same constituency. Poonam Sinha is contestig on Samajwadi Party ticket.

In Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting in five seats - Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Mohanlalganj, Fatehpur and Kaisarganj. While her ally Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party is contesting in seven seats - Lucknow, Banda, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Bahraich and Gonda.

Here are some interesting nuggets about this phase.

• 51 Lok Sabha constituencies across 7 states headed for polls
• Over 8.75 crore voters to decide the fate of 674 candidates
• Over 96,000 polling booths in place for smooth conduct of polls
• Uttar Pradesh has a maximum number of polling booths: 28,072
• Jammu and Kashmir has the least number of polling booths: 1,254
• Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency (PC) in Jammu & Kashmir going to polls in Phase III, Phase IV & Phase V, the only such PC in the country.

 Also read: Lok Sabha Elections Fifth Phase 2019: Polling underway in MP; minor EVM issues at some booths