New Delhi: Voting for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections has begun in 49 constituencies. As polling began, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday urged people to vote for love and not hate and against unemployment and inflation.

The fate of these leaders will be decided

Voting is being held for 49 seats in six states and two Union Territories in the fifth phase, which will decide the electoral fate of several key leaders like former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.

In a post in Hindi on X, Mallikarjun Kharge said, "If we want to protect democracy and the Constitution, we must vote. Before pressing the button on the EVM, remember that we must vote for love and brotherhood, not for hatred."

The Congress president said, we have to vote against unemployment and inflation, not to make a few capitalists rich. We have to vote for the protection of our fundamental rights, not for those who snatch our rights.

He urged people to vote for justice and not for injustice and oppression.

First time voters welcomed

Vote for democracy, not dictatorship. Voters in eight states and union territories who will cast their franchise for 49 Lok Sabha seats today will vote on the agenda of youth justice, women justice, farmers justice, workers justice and equity justice.

Kharge said, when your hand presses the EVM button, the already unstable chair of dictatorship will suffer another blow and democracy will gain strength.

He also welcomed first-time voters and said it is a historic responsibility for them.

The Congress president said, the trends of four phases show that the departure of 'Hukamshah' is certain. Today is the fifth step towards his departure.

People are fed up with the politics of hatred- Rahul Gandhi

At the same time, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted. He said that today is the fifth phase of voting! In the first four phases itself it has become clear that the public has stood up to protect the Constitution and democracy and is defeating the BJP. This country, which is fed up with the politics of hatred, is now voting on its issues. Youth for jobs, farmers for MSP and freedom from debt, women for economic independence and security and laborers for fair wages.