Campaigning Ends For Final Phase Of LS Polls In 57 Seats

The intense campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh concluded on Thursday evening, ahead of the June 1 polling.

Voting is set to take place in all 13 seats of Punjab, four in Himachal Pradesh, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha, three in Jharkhand, and one in Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi.

So far, voting has been completed in 486 seats across 28 states and Union territories, with turnout percentages for the first six phases recorded at 66.14, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2, and 63.36 respectively.

The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. During the campaign, BJP leaders, led by Modi, accused the Congress and the INDIA alliance of corruption, antiHindu sentiments, and engaging in loot, appeasement, and dynastic politics.

In contrast, the Opposition claimed that the BJP is antifarmer, anti-youth, and would alter or scrap the Constitution if they win the elections.

At a rally in Odisha, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that BJP leaders were trying to portray Modi as the "eleventh avatar" of Lord Vishnu, but he insisted that the people would reject this notion.