Varanasi/Chandigarh: The high-pitched campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening.
Polling is scheduled 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 seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi.
Voting is already over in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories. The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 per cent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 per cent respectively. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
A total of 904 candidates are in the fray in this phase. Thirteen seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, 9 in West Bengal, 8 seats in Bihar, 6 in Odisha, 4 in Himachal Pradesh, 3 in Jharkhand, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh are going to the polls on June 1. Simultaneously, 42 assembly seats in Odisha will also go to the polls. The counting of votes will be done on June 4.
Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi addressed rallies in West Bengal and Odisha yesterday (Wednesday). In West Bengal, the PM addressed a rally in Mathurapur. He said everyone looks at India with respect today, and this has been made possible because people voted to power a BJP-led NDA government at the centre.
Addressing a rally in Balasore, Odisha, the Prime Minister said, After witnessing the joy and excitement among the voters in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, he is certain that a ‘Majboot Modi Sarkar’ will be formed for the third time at the Centre. On the last day of campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Modi will address a party rally in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, today (Thursday). Tight security arrangements have been made for this rally.
Besides it, the BJP National President, JP Nadda, is also scheduled to address rallies in Amritsar, Faridkot, and Roopnagar in favour of party candidates. On the other hand, Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and state Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan are scheduled to hold road shows in various districts. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal campaigned for the party candidate in Amritsar last evening.