Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Final Phase Of Voting Begins For 57 Seats With PM Modi's Varanasi In Focus

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 7: Voting for the last phase of polling in 57 constituencies across eight states and UT began today at 7 AM.

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 7: Voting for the last phase of polling in 57 constituencies across eight states and UT began today at 7 AM.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Voting for the last and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 began today at 7 am. The seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls will mark a grand finish to the world’s largest polling marathon, which began on April 19. In the phase 7 of polling, the 57 remaining parliamentary constituencies across eight states and Union Territories will exercise their right to vote. The previous six phases covered 486 Lok Sabha seats.

The voting began at 7 AM today. The counting of votes will be conducted on June 4, deciding India’s fate.

The 57 constituencies where voting is being held today include Uttar Pradesh (13), West Bengal (9), Bihar (8), Himachal Pradesh (4), Chandigarh, Punjab (13), Jharkhand (3), and Odisha (6). Apart from this, polling in the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies of Odisha will also take place simultaneously. 

One of the most prominent candidates among the total 904 contestants in fray for the phase 7 voting include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is vying for a third consecutive term from Varanasi.

Around 10.9 lakh polling officials have been deployed to ensure smooth voting across 1.09 lakh polling stations in the eight states and a UT.

During the seventh phase, over 10.06 crore citizens are eligible to exercise franchise. These include nearly 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women and 3,574 third gender electors. 

The optional Home Voting facility has also been made available to 85+ and PwD electors.

Some other prominent candidates in fray include Union minister Anurag Thakur, Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti, actor Kangana Ranaut, Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, and Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh, who was suspended from BJP recently.

The Election Commission of India has ensured the availability of basic facilities at the polling stations including drinking water, ample shade, ramps, and toilets to provide a comfortable and secure environment to voters.  

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.