Over 60 per cent polling was reported till 6pm in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats across 13 states.

The turnout appears to be higher than the first phase, although the Election Commission has not officially disclosed the latest aggregate turnout for either phase.

Karnataka’s chief electoral officer tweeted that FIRs had been filed against BJP leader C.T. Ravi for “promoting hatred and enmity between different classes of citizens” through his post on X.

A case was booked against BJP MP and Bangalore South candidate Tejasvi Surya for allegedly posting a video on X and soliciting votes on the grounds of religion, the Karnataka chief electoral officer tweeted.

Some EVMs were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency of Karnataka during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not. Officials said an FIR is being filed and the EC would take a call after getting a detailed report.

Violence was reported from Outer Manipur’s Ukhrul as well.

At 6pm, Tripura retained its first-phase trend and reported the highest turnout at 77.95 per cent. Uttar Pradesh clocked the lowest turnout at 53.02 per cent. Within Uttar Pradesh, Amroha reported the highest turnout at 61.89 per cent and Mathura the lowest at 47.45 per cent.

Amroha is represented by BSP’s Danish Ali, now fighting on a Congress ticket. Mathura’s BJP MP Hema Malini is contesting for a third term.