New Delhi: The seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed a voter turnout of 59.15 percent on Saturday, concluding a marathon electoral process that began on April 19. The phase was marred by incidents of violence and complaints of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), particularly in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area, where clashes erupted between supporters of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Election Day Drama: Violence, EVM Malfunctions, and Scorching Heat
Polling day was not without its challenges. West Bengal, a key battleground state, reported violent clashes in Sandeshkhali, resulting in heightened tensions between Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters. In addition to the violence, several complaints of EVM malfunctions and allegations of rigging were reported at various polling stations, adding to the day’s controversies.
Varanasi in the Spotlight: PM Modi Seeks Third Term
The heat was on in Varanasi, both literally and figuratively, as voters braved the scorching temperatures to cast their ballots. The constituency drew significant attention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested for a third consecutive term from this seat, adding to the high-stakes nature of the final phase.
Detailed Breakdown: Voting Across Constituencies
In this decisive phase, voting was conducted across 57 seats, including:
- Union Territory of Chandigarh: 1 seat
- Punjab: All 13 seats
- Himachal Pradesh: All 4 seats
- Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats
- West Bengal: 9 seats
- Bihar: 8 seats
- Odisha: 6 seats
- Jharkhand: 3 seats
Additionally, elections for the remaining 42 assembly seats in Odisha and by-elections for six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh were held simultaneously. The earlier phases saw elections for the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
Voter Turnout Figures
According to the Election Commission’s app, the turnout data by 8 PM was as follows:
- Jharkhand: 69.03%
- Uttar Pradesh: 55.60%
- West Bengal: 69.89%
- Bihar: 49.58%
- Himachal Pradesh: 67.39%
- Punjab: 55.69%
- Chandigarh: 62.80%
- Odisha: 63.21%
The voter turnout for the first six phases of the general election ranged between 62.2% and 69.16%.
Notable Contenders and Voter Demographics
A total of 904 candidates were in the fray for the final phase. High-profile candidates included Union Minister Anurag Thakur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti, and actress Kangana Ranaut. Over 10.06 crore citizens were eligible to vote, including approximately 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women, and 3,574 transgender voters.
As the final ballots are counted, the nation eagerly awaits the results of a highly contested and eventful election season.
