Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP for allegedly creating a distressing atmosphere in the country and urged citizens to rally behind the Congress for a brighter future.

Gandhi posted a video message on X where she highlighted the widespread challenges the nation is facing and said, today in every corner of the country, youth are facing unemployment, women are facing atrocities, Dalits, tribals, backward classes and minorities are facing terrible discrimination.

The Congress leader added that the atmosphere is due to the intentions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused them of promoting hatred for political gain. Gandhi said that the Congress has always fought for the progress of all, justice for the deprived and to strengthen the country. She urged the voters to lend their support once again while highlighting the party’s manifesto, Nyay Patra, which pledges to uplift the impoverished, support farmers and labourers, empower youth and women and strengthen marginalised communities.

She said the Congress and INDIA alliance is dedicated to protecting the Constitution and democracy.  She appealed to the people of India to Vote for Congress for a bright future for all and so that together they can build a strong and united India. Her video message was shared on the social media handle of Congress on X at a time when voting for the 3rd phase of Lok Sabha elections is undergoing in 93 constituencies across 11 states and Uniion Territories.

The Congress party has asserted that this Lok Sabha election is for saving the Constitution and the rights of tribals, poor and backward. Earlier during the day, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he wanted to hand over Jal, Jungle, Jameen belonging to tribals to industrialists.

An overall voter turnout of around 40% was recorded as of 1 pm on Tuesday in the 3rd phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The highest overall voter turnout was recorded in West Bengal at 49.27% as of 1 pm which was followed closely by Goa with 49.04% voter turnout so far.

States such as Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh as well as Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli also saw an increase in the voting trends. While Gujarat recorded an overall voter turnout of 37.83 %, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 38.12 %. Maharashtra continued to log the lowest voter turnout till 1 pm. The state, which has the second highest number of Lok Sabha seats after Uttar Pradesh, saw an overall voter turnout of less than 32% till 1 pm.

In Uttar Pradesh, Firozabad 40.06 %,Sambhal recorded 42.97 % voter turnout, Etah 38.87 %, Fatehpur Sikri 39.09 %, Hathras 37.73 %, Agra witnessed 36.89 % voting, Mainpuri 38.82 %, Budaun 34.97%, and Bareilly 34.93 %, Aonla recorded 36.95 % voting.

In Bihar about 36.69 % voter turnout was recorded across five Lok Sabha seats. Supaul recorded the highest voter turnout at 38.58 %, followed by Araria (37.09 %), Khagaria (36.02 %), Madhepura (36.84 %) and Jhanjharpur (34.94%) till 1 pm. Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls in Karnataka, Chikkodi recorded the highest voter turnout at 45.69 per cent, followed by Shimoga at 44.98 per cent. Gulbarga recorded the least voter turnout at 37.48 per cent.

In Maharashtra, Hatkanangle 36.17%, Kolhapur registered 38.42% voter turnout, Satara 32.78 %, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg 33.91%, Raigad 31.34 %, Latur 32.71 %, Sangli 29.65 %, Osmanabad 30.54 %, Baramati 27.55 % Solapur 29.32 % and Madha 26.61%.

In Assam, Dhubri recorded the highest voter turnout of 47.73%, followed by Barpeta at 46.83%. While Kokrajhar recorded a voter turnout of 46.43 %, Guwahati had a polling percentage of 42.13%.

An overall voter turnout of around 60.19% was recorded as of 5 pm on Tuesday in the 3rd phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The highest overall voter turnout was recorded in Assam at 74.86% as of 5 pm which was followed closely by West Bengal with 73.93% voter turnout so far.

States such as Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh as well as Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli also saw an increase in the voting trends. While Gujarat recorded an overall voter turnout of 55.22 %, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 55.13 %. Maharashtra continued to log the lowest voter turnout till 5 pm. The state, which has the second highest number of Lok Sabha seats after Uttar Pradesh, saw an overall voter turnout of less than 53.40% till 5 pm.

In Uttar Pradesh, Firozabad 56.27 %,Sambhal recorded 61.10 % voter turnout, Etah 57.07 %, Fatehpur Sikri 54.93 %, Hathras 53.54 %, Agra witnessed 51.53 % voting, Mainpuri 55.88 %, Badaun 52.77%, and Bareilly 54.21 %, Aoula recorded 54.73 % voting. Voter Turnout till 5 pm for Gujarat’s 25 seats is 55.22%

In Bihar about 36.69 % voter turnout was recorded across five Lok Sabha seats. Supaul recorded the highest voter turnout at 38.58 %, followed by Araria (37.09 %), Khagaria (36.02 %), Madhepura (36.84 %) and Jhanjharpur (34.94%) till 1 pm.The overall voter turnout in Karnataka stands at 66.05% till 5pm. Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls in Karnataka. Chikkodi recorded the highest voter turnout at 72.75 %, followed by Shimoga at 44.98 %. Gulbarga recorded the least voter turnout at 57.20 %.

In Maharashtra, overall voter turnout recorded till 5pm is 53.4% and Hatkanangle 62.18%, Kolhapur registered 63.71% voter turnout, Satara 54.11 %, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg 53.75%, Raigad 50.31%, Latur 55.38 %, Sangli 52.56 %, Osmanabad 52.78 %, Baramati 45.68 % Solapur 49.17 % and Madha 50%.

In Assam the total voter turnout recorded is 74.86% Dhubri recorded the highest voter turnout of 79.70%, followed by Barpeta at 76.20%. While Kokrajhar recorded a voter turnout of 74.24 %, Guwahati had a polling percentage of 67.68%.