New Delhi: In the seventh and final phase of the general election Saturday, polling is being held for 57 constituencies spread across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha.
Prominent candidates among the 904 in the fray are Union Minister Anurag Thakur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti and actor Kangana Ranaut.
The voting 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. Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh is also taking place simultaneously.
More than 10.06 crore citizens, including nearly 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women and 3,574 third-gender electors, are eligible to vote in this phase.
Over 58% voter turnout recorded till 5pm
A voter turnout of 58.34 per cent was recorded till 5pm Saturday in 57 constituencies spread across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh where polling is underway in the seventh and the final phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Till 5pm, West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout at 69.89 per cent while Bihar recorded the lowest turnout at 48.86 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 54.00 per cent, Jharkhand 67.95 per cent, Odisha 62.46 per cent, Punjab 55.20 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 66.56 per cent and Chandigarh 62.80 per cent, the EC data showed.
Over 49% voters exercise their franchise till 3pm
Till 3pm, the approximate polling percentage was 49.68, according to the EC’s voter-turnout app.
A voter turnout of nearly 60.14 per cent was recorded in Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh logged a polling percentage of 46.83, West Bengal 58.46, Bihar 42.95 and Himachal Pradesh 58.41.
Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 46.38 per cent till 3pm while Chandigarh registered a voting percentage of 52.61. Odisha recorded around 49.77 per cent voting.
Over 40% voter turnout recorded till 1pm
A voter turnout of 40.09 per cent was recorded till 1pm Saturday in 57 constituencies spread across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh where polling is underway in the seventh and the final phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Till 1pm, Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest voter turnout at 48.63 per cent while Bihar recorded the lowest turnout at 35.65 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 39.31 per cent, Jharkhand 46.80 per cent, Odisha 37.64 per cent, Punjab 37.80 per cent, West Bengal 45.07 per cent and Chandigarh 40.14 per cent, the EC data showed.
Poll violence reported in Bengal
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from West Bengal as TMC and BJP workers clashed in various parts of the Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour constituencies.
Clashes broke out between supporters of the TMC, ISF and BJP in Jadavpur as the parties alleged that their polling agents were stopped from entering booths.
A confrontation erupted in Bhangar within the Jadavpur constituency between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, with allegations of crude bombs being hurled from both sides.
Police intervention ensued, triggering protests as both factions accused each other.
To quell the situation, security personnel resorted to a lathi-charge and seized several crude bombs.
Over 26% voter turnout logged till 11am
Till 11am, the approximate polling percentage was 26.30 per cent, according to the Election Commission’s (EC) voter-turnout app.
Till 11am, Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest voter turnout at 31.92 per cent while Odisha recorded the lowest turnout at 22.64 per cent, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 28.02 per cent, Jharkhand 29.55 per cent, Bihar 24.25 per cent, Punjab 23.91 per cent, West Bengal 28.10 per cent and Chandigarh 25.03 per cent, the EC data showed.
11.31% polling recorded till 9am
Till 9am, the approximate polling percentage was 11.31 per cent, according to the Election Commission’s (EC) voter-turnout app.
A voter turnout of nearly 12.15 per cent was recorded in Jharkhand till 9am. Uttar Pradesh logged a polling percentage of 12.94, West Bengal 12.63, Bihar 10.58 and Himachal Pradesh 14.35.
Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 9.64 per cent in the first two hours of polling while Chandigarh registered a voting percentage of 11.64. Odisha recorded around 7.69 per cent voting till 9am.
The voting began at 7 am. Voters were seen standing in queues in front of polling booths since early in the morning among severe heatwave conditions in several parts of the country.
The final leg of LS polls ends today
Saturday’s voting will mark the end of the marathon polling process that began April 19.
The voting is scheduled to conclude at 6pm, barring in Jharkhand, where it is scheduled to conclude at 5pm.
The assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also went to polls. The counting of votes will be taken up June 4.
In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the counting for the Assembly polls will be held June 2.
Exit polls only after 6:30pm
According to the EC’s 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.
PNN & Agencies