A voter turnout of 26.3% was recorded till 11 am on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission (EC) said. Polling is taking place in 57 constituencies across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term. Voting is being conducted amid intense heatwave conditions, with prominent candidates such as Union minister Anurag Thakur and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee among the 904 candidates in the fray.
Polling is being held in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha, and three in Jharkhand, besides Chandigarh. Additionally, voting for the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls for six Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh are also taking place. Till 11 am, voter turnout varied across states: Jharkhand recorded 29.55%, Uttar Pradesh 28.02%, West Bengal 28.1%, Bihar 24.25%, Himachal Pradesh 31.92%, Punjab 23.91%, and Chandigarh 25.03%. Odisha recorded a turnout of around 22.64%. Sporadic incidents of violence have been reported from West Bengal, particularly in the Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour constituencies, where clashes between TMC, ISF, and BJP workers occurred. In Jadavpur, confrontations between TMC and ISF supporters led to allegations of crude bombs being hurled, prompting police intervention and a subsequent lathi charge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to vote in large numbers, emphasizing the importance of a vibrant and participative democracy.
Saturday’s voting marks the end of a marathon polling process that began on April 19, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. The Election Commission has encouraged voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote responsibly. The final phase of polling sees a diverse range of candidates, including actor Kangana Ranaut and RJD leader Misa Bharti, vying for seats. As the polls conclude, all eyes will be on the counting day to see how the electorate’s choices will shape the next Lok Sabha.
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