Goemkarponn Desk
DELHI: The Lok Sabha elections came to a close as the final phase of voting took place in 57 constituencies across eight states and Union territories.
This marked the end of the seven-phase elections that began on April 19. Voting took place in 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine seats in West Bengal, eight seats in Bihar, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Himachal Pradesh, three seats in Jharkhand, and one seat in Chandigarh.
A total of 904 candidates contested in this final phase. Key contenders include dPrime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Polling was also held in 42 assembly seats in Odisha and six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh where by-elections are taking place.
The Election Commission had made extensive arrangements to ensure free and fair voting. Facilities such as drinking water, shade, ramps, toilets, and wheelchairs will be provided at polling stations to accommodate all voters, including the elderly and persons with disabilities. The ECI had also instructed polling officials to make all necessary arrangements in view of the severe heatwave conditions in several constituencies.
Political leaders made their final appeal to voters on the last day of campaigning for the final phase on Thursday. In Himachal Pradesh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari held a rally in the Karsog region, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a public meeting in Kullu and campaigned in Hamirpur with Union Minister Anurag Thakur. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Solan.
The ECI will declare the final results on June 4.
More than 100 million people are registered to vote across eight states and federal territories on Saturday, including in the northern state of Punjab and the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.
“Calling upon the voters to turnout in large numbers and vote,” Modi said as polls opened. “Together, let’s make our democracy more vibrant and participative.”
Modi is seeking a rare, third straight term as prime minister as his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) battles an opposition alliance of two dozen parties led by the Congress, and is widely expected to win a majority.
According to the Election Commission’s (EC) guidelines, television channels and news outlets will be able to run exit poll data and its results after 6:30 pm.
The poll panel has called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride. The turnout in the first six phases of the general election was 66.14 per cent, 66.71 per cent, 65.68 per cent, 69.16 per cent, 62.2 per cent and 63.36 per cent respectively.
The campaigning for the last phase, which ended on Thursday evening, saw ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, led by Modi, accusing the Congress and the INDIA opposition bloc of being corrupt, anti-Hindu and engaging in loot, appeasement and dynastic politics.
